Australia agreed to buy K9 Thunder artillery from South Korea and increase ties between their defense industries as the nations cemented a new comprehensive security partnership amid increasing tensions with China.
The countries also pledged to boost critical minerals and clean-energy trade in pacts signed by President Moon Jae-in and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Canberra on Monday. It was the first visit by an international leader to the nation since it started reopening its border this month.
¡°We share a view about the role of liberal democracies in today¡¯s world and particularly in the Indo-Pacific,¡± Morrison told reporters after signing the four pacts. ¡°We understand how important it is for the rule of law, for multilateral organizations that are based on a world order that favors freedom, that countries in our own region can have choices, choices in their economy, choices for their peace and security.¡±
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