Dubai: Australia’s new ambassador to the UAE expects closer defence and military and security ties, including between security agencies, to be a big focus of his posting that started this week.
“It’s going to be a big part, there is no doubt about it,” Arthur Spyrou, ambassador-designate, told Gulf News in Dubai on Wednesday.
Spyrou, who is on his first posting as ambassador, takes over from Pablo Kang who is believed to have taken on a government position in Australia’s capital Canberra.
Kang oversaw a period of increased trade and investment ties between the UAE and Australia, which has seen the UAE become Australia’s 18th largest trading partner and 10th biggest foreign investor.
But increasing instability in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly in Syria and Iraq, is expected to dominate a large part of the two countries’ relationship over the coming years.
“We work very closely together … We’re looking to deepen that cooperation,” Spyrou said, adding the UAE’s views are “respected” in Canberra.
He said closer defence ties will “absolutely” mean a closer relationship between security agencies.
“We’ve got burgeoning relations in terms of security, our agencies and those of the UAE are working closely together,” Spyrou said.
“The agenda is not just going to be a military one. The security agenda is actually going to be quite a broad one,” he added.
Spyrou has been posted to the UAE as ambassador for three years with the possibility of a one-year extension as per normal Australian government procedures.
