Australia sees itself as an Indo-Pacific regional power with global interests. Germany and the EU play a key role in the country’s international relations: Australia and Germany have been linked by a strategic partnership since 2013, which was further expanded in 2021. Cooperation in the economic and research spheres, as well as on security issues is growing steadily on this basis.

Germany is Australia’s second most important trading partner in Europe (after the UK). Germany’s main exports to Australia are motor vehicles, medicines and pharmaceutical products as well as machinery. Australia’s principle exports to Germany are gold and other precious metals, coins and agricultural products. In the cooperation between Germany and Australia, energy – including green hydrogen – and raw materials are of particular interest.

A free trade agreement between the EU and Australia is intended to further strengthen economic exchange.

Australia and Germany have a long tradition of close cultural ties. Germans were among the first European settlers in Australia and it is estimated that up to one million Australians have German roots.

The Goethe-Institut as well as German schools are located in Sydney and Melbourne. The German Academic Exchange service (DAAD) has an information centre in Sydney. There are some 100,000 learners of German at Australian schools (i.e. about one percent of all students). The cooperation between the two countries in higher education is intensive: the number of partnerships between German and Australian higher education institutions has risen to over 600 within the last few years.