Interview with Melissa Clarke, ABC AM

Transcript, E&OE Subjects: Ocean of Peace Alliance; Vuvale Union; regional security; Chinese missile test. 07 July 2026 Melissa Clarke, Host: Senator, thanks for joining AM. Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good to be with you. What's the Government's ambition for the Ocean of Peace Alliance?

How broad would you ultimately like it to be? Foreign Minister: This is a milestone agreement that we have entered into with Fiji, and this is an alliance, Australia's fourth alliance, Fiji's first, that commits us both to a mutual defence obligation. But what it does reflect is the desire by Fiji and Australia and by many other countries in the Pacific to make sure that we work together to keep the Pacific peaceful, stable and to enable prosperity.

Is this an alliance that could ultimately be the sort of regional security pact that the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has talked about, or is this more envisaged strictly in military terms and for nations that have militaries in the Pacific? Foreign Minister: First, the Ocean of Peace Alliance is open to Pacific nations with militaries, and you will know that there is a limited number of nations that have militaries in the Pacific.

The Vuvale Union, which is our family partnership, which is now at treaty level, does provide a blueprint to give effect to the Ocean of Peace declaration that has been agreed to by all Pacific leaders. Do you think that Ocean of Peace Alliance, though, could encompass more Pacific countries than those that have standing militaries down the track though? It seemed that Sitiveni Rabuka suggested that it could when he was asked about it.

Is that the Australian Government's view? Foreign Minister: Our view is that there is a very important discussion and action being taken within the Pacific now about how best we work together across the region to assure our own security. The fact is we all know we live in a more contested world.

We all know we live in a world where there's greater competition. We all know we live in a world where there is greater risk of miscalculation. And there is an important discussion between Pacific leaders, Pacific countries, about how is it we best work together to assure the peace and stability that we all want and that underpins our prosperity.

And you've seen that played out in the various agreements Australia has entered into. The alliance with Papua New Guinea and the alliance with Fiji today, but also the agreements we have with Tuvalu and Nauru, and the Nakamal Agreement, which was signed recently. Did you have consultations with the US about the implications of the treaties with both PNG and Fiji?

If there's mutual defence treaties between Australia and the Pacific nations, does that necessarily then have implications for the alliance with the US and New Zealand? Foreign Minister: We are a US ally, and we are also now an ally of Papua New Guinea and Fiji. These are obviously separate alliances, but they reflect our desire to work with others to assure peace.

So, they're separate alliances. So, if something that affected PNG engaged Australia's assistance, that wouldn't have a cascading effect to US involvement? Foreign Minister: We are in the world of hypotheticals, but the Pukpuk Alliance is only between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

I note in the documentation for the alliance with Fiji, there are elements that refer to shared democratic values. What would be the status of this mutual defence pact if political circumstances changed in Fiji and we, for example, saw another military coup? Foreign Minister: Again, I always think it's risky for foreign ministers to engage in hypotheticals.

But you have pointed to a very important clause, which is that democratic institutions and values are one of the bases on which this alliance and these agreements are founded. The Government's worked very assiduously to develop closer relationships bilaterally and through existing multilateral forums in the Pacific. Is there a risk that developing more formal defence ties antagonises China rather than provides a bulwark against it?

Foreign Minister: As I said, we do live in much more contested times. And the question that confronts Australian leaders, Pacific leaders, is what do we have to do to best assure peace and stability for all our peoples, and we do that by working to ensure that our futures are determined by the region. We do that by deepening, strengthening our relationships and our trust with the countries of our near region.

You've heard me talk about and the Prime Minister talk about how security and stability are found in our region. What you have seen in this government is a very clear and singular focus on developing stronger relationships, which is all about more security for Australia and the Australian people. And at this point, we're seeing China has tested a ballistic missile in the Pacific.

Is that an example of the contested environment that these sorts of treaties are trying to provide some kind of response to? Foreign Minister: I'll leave it to China to speak to its intention. I'll simply indicate that Australia's view is this test is destabilising for the region and raises the risk of miscalculation.

We do not believe this test is consistent with the view that Pacific leaders have very clearly expressed that the Pacific should be an Ocean of Peace. Senator Wong, thanks very much for speaking with me. Foreign Minister: Good to speak with you.