The EU and Australia announced on Wednesday they will start talks for a defence and security pact, with the bloc expected to strike a similar deal with Canada next week, a first step that could eventually allow both NATO allies to take part in the EU's €150 billion programme to boost military production.
"I very much welcome the EU's offer for a Security and Defence Partnership and Australia will warmly take it up and commence work immediately," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a joint statement released following a meeting on the sidelines of a G7 summit in Canada.
