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Albanese says Russia’s ‘brutal’ invasion has major consequences for world
By Rob Harris
Madrid: Anthony Albanese says a strong and united NATO is in Australia’s strategic interests, as he called on democratic nations to stay the course on their support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s “brutal” invasion.
Landing in Madrid on Monday night AEST, the Australian prime minister told journalists that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of its neighbour in late February had broken international law and had major consequences for the world.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon arrive in Madrid to attend the NATO summit.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Albanese is among four Asia-Pacific leaders – along with Korea, Japan and New Zealand - invited to the two-day summit of the North Atlantic Alliance in Madrid, which will help shape the military pact’s posturing over the coming decade.
His comments coincided with the Group of Seven club of wealthy nations vow on Monday to stand with Ukraine “for as long as it takes”, promising to tighten the squeeze on Russia’s finances with new sanctions that include a proposal to cap the price of Russian oil.
NATO also announced it would boost the number of troops on high alert in Eastern Europe by sevenfold to more than 300,000, as the alliance prepared to adopt a new strategy describing Moscow as a “direct threat”.
The announcement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing G7 leaders in the Bavarian Alps via a video link, asked for more weapons and air defences to gain the upper hand in the war within months.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the global economic fallout, such as soaring energy and food prices, has dominated this year’s meeting of the leaders of Germany, the US, France, Italy, Canada, Japan and Britain.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday he expected allies to make clear they consider Russia “as the most significant and direct threat to our security”, but that the group’s new strategic concept would also address for the first time the security challenges posed by Russia and China in its allies’ “southern neighbourhood”.
Albanese said Ukraine was “inspiring the world” with its resistance and like-minded countries needed to support them in every possible way.
“It’s not just an issue for Europe, but an issue in our own region that need to be dealt with,” he said.
“We know the invasion came just after the arrangement was made of a special relationship between Russia and China. That reinforces the need for us to be engaged.”
Anthony Albanese addresses the media after arriving at Torrejón Air Base in Madrid.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“[But] what Vladimir Putin has done with this invasion is to unify NATO, and unify democratic nations against this action. Australia regards a strong NATO as being absolutely critical.”
Albanese also confirmed reports from Sky News Australia that he had held his first phone conversation with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.
The call took place on Sunday night before Albanese flew out to Madrid.
The recent China-Solomon Islands security agreement has sparked concerns among Australia, the US and Pacific partners about a Chinese naval presence in strategically important waters.
Albanese said it was a “constructive discussion” and confirmed the pair would meet face to face at the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum.
He said Sogavare had “reconfirmed his position that Australia remains the security partner of choice”.
The Australian leader will take part in a host of bilateral meetings over the next 48 hours, including with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Stoltenberg and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
He is also expected to be sounded out about buying another three Air Warfare Destroyers when he meets his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez in Madrid, according to The Australian Financial Review.
In what officials say will be the first bilateral meeting between Spanish and Australian prime ministers, Sanchez is expected to press the case for Spanish shipbuilder Navantia when they meet on Tuesday. The Financial Review reported Albanese was unlikely to give a commitment.
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