Chargé d’Affaires Erika Olson addressed attendees at the Judge Advocate General’s Conference in Canberra, Australia, on March 11, 2025. She expressed gratitude to participants for their presence and acknowledged the importance of discussing legal challenges and opportunities.
Olson highlighted the strong alliance between the United States and Australia, describing it as one of the most robust partnerships. "Australia is one of our strongest allies," she stated. She emphasized that recent developments in AUKUS reflect a shift towards integration and collaboration within alliances.
The Chargé d’Affaires discussed her participation in a trilateral defense ministers meeting in Darwin, which included significant agreements involving Japanese defense forces training alongside U.S. Marines and the Australian Army. She noted this event as "paradigm shifting."
Olson encouraged conference attendees to consider how they could support long-term goals of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region while making both nations stronger and more prosperous. She acknowledged budget constraints and stressed the need for cooperation across various U.S. government agencies.
A key topic was addressing legal structures that allow agreed-upon actions with allies, particularly considering Australia's stance on sovereignty without permanent military bases on its soil. Olson urged consideration of differing legal authorities among allies such as Japan and members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.
In closing, Olson expressed appreciation for David's efforts in supporting a growing community with limited resources. She invited questions from attendees and looked forward to learning about their discussions during the conference.