Securing ASEAN’s first Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
The Morrison Government actively engaged with the Indo-Pacific region, particularly Australia’s ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) partners.
Australia’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with ASEAN, established on 27 October 2021, made it the first external partner to be offered the CSP designation by ASEAN. This marked a significant deepening of diplomatic, economic and strategic ties between Australia and Southeast Asia. As one of ASEAN’s first external partners to reach this highest level of partnership, Australia affirmed its long-term commitment to ASEAN centrality and a stable, rules-based Indo-Pacific.
The CSP builds upon the existing ASEAN-Australia Strategic Partnership (2014) and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, expanding cooperation across five key domains: security, economic integration, health, education, and climate resilience.
On strategic and security cooperation, the CSP supports ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, enhances collaboration on maritime security, cyber resilience, and counterterrorism, and promotes peace and stability in the region.
In economic terms, the CSP aims to strengthen regional supply chains, promote digital trade, and support infrastructure development. Australia committed AU$154 million under the Digital Trade Standards Initiative and AU$40 million to enhance connectivity and clean energy cooperation.
Under health and pandemic recovery, the CSP builds on Australia’s AU$500 million COVID-19 response, supporting vaccine access, health systems strengthening, and long-term pandemic preparedness under the Partnership for Recovery framework.
Related media:
1. Press release, Australia-ASEAN Leaders’ Summit and East Asia Summit, 27 October 2021: https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44122
2. Address, Remarks to the ASEAN-Australia Virtual Summit, 27 October 2021: https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43629
