Australian Embassy and Mission to the EU

Belgium-Luxembourg

Embassy address: Rue Guimardstraat 6-8, 1040 Brussels - Telephone: +32 (0) 2 286 0500 - Fax: +32 (0) 2 231 07 88

Australia-NATO Relations

Australia's relations with NATO have expanded considerably since the deployment of Australian forces in Afghanistan under the NATO-led ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) mission. The decision by the NATO Riga Summit in November 2006 to strengthen relations with Contact Countries - including Australia - resulted in the development of a closer engagement between NATO and Australia, particularly on Afghanistan. Australia continues to be a significant non-NATO contributor to ISAF with 1550 ADF (Australian Defence Force) troops and personnel from DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), AusAID (Australian Aid Agency), AFP (Australian Federal Police) and other Australian government agencies deployed.

► NATO Deputy Secretary General Bisogniero welcomed DFAT Deputy Secretary Dr Heather Smith to NATO HQ on 13 September 2010
Dr Smith led an Australian delegation to Brussels for discussions with NATO and with the EU on global strategic issues. For pictures of the meeting at NATO, click here.