Australia Appoints Philip Green As Country's Next High Commissioner To India

Australia appoints Philip Green as the country's next high commissioner to India. Australian foreign affairs minister Penny Wong made the announcement through an official release on Friday.

Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong on Friday announced that the country's high commissioner to Germany, Philip Green, is now being appointed as the next high commissioner to India. The official release added that the High Commissioner to India is also accredited to the Kingdom of Bhutan. Highlighting India and Australia's close relationship, the minister said that Australia and India share perspectives, challenges and a democratic heritage. She added that through Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and as Quad partners, both countries are working to promote a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, where sovereignty is respected.

"Today I announce the appointment of Mr Philip Green OAM as Australia's next High Commissioner to India...Mr Green is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Australia's Ambassador to Germany. He has previously served overseas as Australia's High Commissioner to Singapore, to South Africa, and to Kenya," the minister said in the release.

She added, "Along with our deepening defence and security cooperation, Australia and India have a mutually beneficial economic partnership, which will expand as we work towards finalising an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement."

Thanking the outgoing High Commissioner, she said, "I thank outgoing High Commissioner the Hon Barry O'Farrell AO for his contribution to advancing Australia's interests in India since 2020."

During the Quad meeting in Hiroshima last month, PM Modi announced that India will host the Quad Summit in 2024. PM said, "Quad will continue to make efforts towards global good, the welfare of the people, prosperity and peace". 

Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has reconfirmed the country's commitment to promoting a united, sustainable, safe, and prosperous Indo-Pacific area.

During the meeting, Australian PM Anthony Albanese said, "I am delighted to be among close friends again. Standing together for an open, stable, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. A region where sovereignty is respected and all countries large and small benefit from the regional balance."