32nd OSCE Ministerial Council: National Statement of Australia
Statement by H.E Ambassador Ian Biggs, Australia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organisations in Vienna
5 December 2025
Chair, Secretary General, Ministers, Excellencies
I have the honour of representing Australia’s Foreign Minister at this meeting of the Ministerial Council.
Australia extends its sincere thanks to the Chairpersonship of Finland for its leadership this year.
We commend the Finnish Chairpersonship for placing Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine at the centre of its work.
Australia welcomes the Chairpersonship of Switzerland, which takes stewardship of the organisation at a time when we face among the most complex strategic circumstances of the post-war period, in the OSCE region and beyond.
Chair
The peace, stability and prosperity of the OSCE region and the Indo-Pacific are intertwined.
Australia greatly values the opportunity to work with the Asian Partners to bring an Indo‑Pacific perspective to the deliberations of the OSCE.
We thank Malta for its collaborative leadership as Chair of the Asian Partners for Co‑operation Group this year.
And look forward to working with Finland in that capacity in 2026.
Co-operation between participating States and the Asian Partners has facilitated cross-regional dialogue this year on issues as varied as economic security, human rights in Afghanistan, countering online scam operations, and cyber and climate security.
These are just some of the many increasingly global challenges we each face.
Chair
Australia respects the agency, leadership and centrality of regional institutions, including, in the Indo‑Pacific, ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum.
Bringing together perspectives from all regions is critical to achieving the vision for peace, stability and prosperity that Australia shares with most participating States and Partners.
For a world that operates by rules, standards and norms, and where no country dominates, and no country is dominated.
Peace, prosperity, and stability can never be taken for granted – it must be built, pursued, defended, and upheld.
Australia sees mutual understanding, shared prosperity and economic co-operation as the most powerful counterpoints to confrontation, isolation and conflict.
And we are using our term on the UN Peacebuilding Commission to strengthen peacebuilding architecture, support the development of National Prevention Strategies, and advocate for inclusive approaches.
Chair
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is an assault upon the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.
Russia’s war demonstrates what is at stake when aggressors feel emboldened to act with impunity.
The independent report handed down by Moscow Mechanism experts in September documented Russia’s widespread and systematic use of torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearance and summary executions of prisoners of war and civilian detainees.
This abhorrent conduct demands accountability.
Australia stands with Ukraine and shares the resolve of every member of the Coalition of the Willing to secure a just and enduring peace on Ukraine’s terms.
We will continue to provide strong and steadfast support for as long as it takes.
Chair
In October, I had the honour of hosting Australia’s Asian Partners thematic dialogue on the topic of climate security.
Australia is committed to ensuring that our region’s voices help shape global climate action.
We are pleased to have concluded a deal on the hosting of the 31st Conference of the Parties that will put the Pacific front and centre on the world stage.
Australia, the Pacific, and Türkiye will champion climate action and be responsible COP stewards.
Australia will continue to elevate the voices of those most vulnerable.
Around the world, women and girls continue to be disproportionally affected by conflict.
Gender equality is the number one predictor of peace – more so than a country’s wealth, level of democracy or religious identity.
Australia recognises the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and reaffirms our commitment to its full implementation.
Chair
The multilateral system matters to Australia because international rules and norms deter conflict, enable free trade, and promote security and prosperity.
But these rules and norms have not evolved to keep pace with new and emerging threats.
Many of the benefits of modernisation have the potential to be weaponised and wielded as measures short of war that threaten our region and our democracy.
Disinformation, interference, cyberattacks and the unregulated use of AI are just some of the challenges faced by both our regions.
Australia is building our national resilience, including the strength of our economy and our multicultural democracy.
And we are investing in military capability to underwrite our diplomatic efforts to deter conflict.
Chair
Australia welcomes the efforts of participating States, through the Helsinki+50 initiative, to preserve and uphold the legacy of the Helsinki Final Act and its place in the multilateral system.
The OSCE holds an important, continuing role in the European security architecture.
And an effective, unobstructed OSCE, supported by its partners across the globe, and promoting peace, stability, prosperity, and accountability, is as important as ever.
We look forward to working with participating States and Partners toward this end in 2026.
Thank you.