NATO and Australia discuss defence industrial cooperation and capabilities

On Thursday (16 April 2026), NATO held its first dedicated meeting with the Australian Department of Defence to discuss opportunities to increase defence industrial cooperation and capabilities.

NATO´s Assistant Secretary General for Defence Industry, Innovation and Armaments, Tarja Jaakkola, said, "Deepening our defence industrial coordination with Australia, one of NATO's closest partners, increases our interoperability, supports our defence industrial base, and ability to face the current security environment."

The first staff-to-staff dialogue focused on how to enhance NATO's cooperation with Australia, including through multinational projects and standardisation. The meeting covered supply chain security, stockpiling, space, as well as possible areas for co-development and co-production.

Last year, NATO's Support and Procurement Organisation (NSPO) and Australia signed a partnership agreement which allows Australia to participate in a wide range of NATO acquisition activities.