A diplomatic push to secure fuel supplies is continuing with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to visit Brunei and Malaysia from tomorrow (April 14).
His visit to those countries (April 14-17) will focus on energy, fertiliser and other critical goods supplies.
The visits follows his trip to Singapore to secure fuel supplies; it supplies 25% of Australia’s fuel while Australia supplies 32% of their LNG supply.
In Brunei, Albanese will talk to the Sultan, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, to discuss energy, food security and other essential goods; Brunei supplies 9% of Australia’s diesel imports and 11% of fertiliser-grade urea imports while Australia exports food and agricultural products to Brunei.
In Malaysia, Albanese will meet his Malaysian counterpart, Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim; Malaysia remains Australia’s third-largest source of refined fuel and supplies 10% of Australia’s urea imports while Australia accounts for 95% of Malaysia’s natural gas imports.
DIPLOMATIC DEALS
PM Albanese will be joined by the Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Penny Wong on his trips but who will then head to Singapore for more diplomatic meetings.
“The investment that we made in building up our relationships with ASEAN countries over the last four years … this is why you engage with partners in our region,” Albanese told ABC News Breakfast today (MON).
“One of the themes of this is that people recognise that we’ve got to work together at this difficult time.”
“We are taking every step to reinforce relationships and engage with key partners to keep our fuel supply flowing.”
During the interview, Albanese also says no request has been made to help the US Navy impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East.
The concept was floated by US President Donald Trump as US-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan quickly broke down.
“We haven’t been asked to help. What we have done is continue to provide support,” he says referring to an RAAF jet providing aerial surveillance for the United Arab Emirates.
“We have very much an interest in providing defensive support for our friends there; that’s what we were asked to do by the UAE and that is what we have done.”
Albanese says what he most wants is for peace talks to resume and a ceasefire in place.
“It’s having a devastating impact on the global economy; the longer it goes, the bigger the impact will be and the longer the tail will be,” he says.
“We want to see an end to the conflict. We’ve made that very clear for some time.”
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