Australia to Offer Unprecedented Military Assistance to Ukraine: ‘This is Just the Beginning’
The $250 million package will primarily focus on enhancing Ukraine’s integrated air and missile defense.
Australia has pledged to provide additional military support to Ukraine to aid in its defense against Russia.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles, currently in Washington for the NATO summit, announced a $250 million (US$169 million) military support package for Ukraine on July 12, the largest amount Australia has provided thus far.
The focus of this package will be on integrated air and missile defense, encompassing ground-to-air weapons systems, anti-tank weapon systems, and various types of munitions.
Marles affirmed Australia’s enduring support for Ukraine as long as the conflict persists.
“We will continue to support Ukraine until the conflict is resolved on their terms, as it is crucial for maintaining the global rules-based order,” Marles shared.
When asked about the timing of providing the largest military assistance to Ukraine, Marles emphasized the enduring nature of the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Marles noted that the Ukrainian government greatly appreciates the new support package.
“President Zelenskyy and Ukraine have consistently shown gratitude for our support since the beginning of this crisis, and ongoing dialogues about further assistance are underway,” he explained.
Ukraine-Russia Conflict Will Influence Global Geopolitics
Before announcing the support package, Marles held discussions with representatives from the Indo-Pacific Four group (Australia, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand) to address security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region.
The deputy prime minister highlighted the lessons learned from the Ukraine-Russia conflict by the group.
“The signing of a no-limits agreement between Russia and China on the eve of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine transformed the war in Eastern Europe into a relevant issue for the Indo-Pacific, including Australia,” he said.
“The outcomes of this conflict will shape our region, prompting reflection from every member of the Indo-Pacific Four,” he added.
Opposition Reaffirms Support for Ukraine
As the Labor government extends military aid to Ukraine, the Opposition also stands in solidarity with the Eastern European nation.
However, the Opposition has critiqued the Labor government for not doing enough to assist Ukraine. In an April joint statement, Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham and Shadow Defense Minister Andrew Hastie raised concerns about the government’s failure to respond to Ukraine’s request for additional energy support through coal shipments.
The shadow ministers urged the government to transfer a retired Taipan helicopter fleet to Ukraine to enhance its defense capabilities.
Tackling The Cost-of-living Crisis Should Be Primary Concern: MP
Concerns have been raised about the level of support provided by Australian taxpayers to Ukraine.
Independent MP Dai Le has argued that the Albanese government should prioritize assisting Australians impacted by the rising cost of living instead of getting distracted by international affairs like the war in Ukraine.
