The AUSMIN forum took place on July 28th and sees as protagonists since 1985 the foreign and defence ministers of the governments of the United States and Australia.
Highlights
- AUSMIN is the main forum for consultation between the US and Australian governments.
- Australia has been asked to intensify its efforts in carrying out military exercises in the South China Sea.
- Joe Biden is about to announce who will be the Democratic candidate for vice-presidency.
According to Giampiero Gramaglia, our American policy expert "American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Minister Mark Esper tried to involve Australia into the tensions between the United States and China, but on the other hand Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defense Minister Linda Reynolds have tried to keep out of the pincer, while trying at the same time not to irritate the American ally".
The United States has also called on Australia to intensify military exercises in the South China Sea, where China is trying to build a military belt at the expense of other allies in the region such as the Philippines and Taiwan. Despite this, Gramaglia states that "neither the US nor China seem to be seeking a military escalation".
On the domestic political front, Joe Biden is expected to announce shortly who will be the candidate to the vice-presidency who will accompany him to the November elections. The only certainty about the candidate is that she will be a woman and that she will be from an ethnic minority.
There are many names that have been mentioned in American newspapers, but we will have to wait until next week to be sure who will be the chosen one.
Residents in metropolitan Melbourne are subject to stay-at-home orders and can only leave home for essential work, study, exercise or care responsibilities. It is also mandatory to wear masks in public.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
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