EU and Australia sign free trade deal and boost defence cooperation

The European Union and Australia finalized a free-trade agreement on March 24, marking the conclusion of negotiations that had stretched for years. Beyond tariff reduction, the deal includes provisions for expanded defense cooperation and secured access to rare-earth minerals, resources critical to advanced manufacturing and military technology. The agreement reflects both sides' effort to build economic and security resilience amid rising trade protectionism and geopolitical tension. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, present in Australia for the signing, emphasized that tariffs and supply chains are increasingly being weaponized in global competition. The pact positions the EU and Australia as closer strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region, where supply chain security and defense alignment have become central concerns for Western democracies.