Australia must ‘recognise’ the role deterrents help to ‘avoid conflict’: Sweden joins NATO

Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham says Australia needs to “recognise” the role deterrents play to help “avoid conflict”. Mr Birmingham joined Sky News Australia to discuss the latest developments with Sweden joining NATO. “Deterrents works hand-in-hand with diplomacy,” he said. “It’s why Australia’s got to make sure we lift our game in terms of defence investment, defence capability, defence preparedness to make sure we are a strong ally and partner with others to create that deterrence framework. “It’s why strengthening NATO is also so important – because Sweden joining NATO alongside Finland having joined NATO provides for a strong NATO, and a stronger NATO provides a greater deterrence against Russia.”