‘Deploying': Aus steps up action on Russia
The move comes amid growing fears Russia's war in Ukraine could spill over the border and trigger a much broader conflict in Europe.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles announced the deployment from the NATO Summit in the Netherlands overnight. Australia is deploying an E-7A Wedgetail and some 100 defence personnel to Europe amid fears Russia's war in Ukraine could spread. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia
'We just concluded a really successful summit here at the NATO gathering in The Hague,' Mr Marles told reporters.
'We have been able to announce that we will be deploying an E-7 Wedgetail to Poland in August for a three-month rotation, which will help support Ukraine in its struggle and defiance against Russia.
'There will be about 100 Australian personnel who come with that asset.'
Mr Marles, who is also defence minister, said Australia slapped further 'financial and travel sanctions on 37 individuals and seven entities' related to Russia's 'defence, energy and … other critical sectors'.
The commitment builds on an agreement signed at the summit to deepen defence industry co-ordination as Australia and NATO countries scramble to ramp up production and procurement.
Mr Marles said it would help both parties spend smarter – somewhat of a mantra for the Albanese government as it resists calls to boost Australia's defence budget.
He said the summit 'reaffirmed the connection that exists between the Indo Pacific on the one hand and the North Atlantic on the other'.
'We are obviously focused on the Indo Pacific in terms of our own strategic landscape, but what's happening here in Europe is having an influence on the strategic landscape in the Indo Pacific,' Mr Marles said.
'And as we seek to focus on the Indo Pacific, we really need to have an eye on what's occurring here, which is why this meeting has been so important and has grown importance over the last few years. And I see it as being very important as we go into the future.'
More to come.
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