Canada and Australia91裸聊视频檚 defence ministers say their countries are dealing with similar challenges in an era of global volatility not seen since the Second World War, and strengthening co-operation is essential to avoiding conflict.

Defence Minister Bill Blair and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles announced an agreement Thursday to bolster their countries91裸聊视频� relationships, along with their collective ability to respond to everything from global challenges to malicious cyber threats.

91裸聊视频淐anada and Australia are both Pacific nations, and the security of the Indo-Pacific is crucial for the security of both our nations and today, that security is being challenged in a number of significant and difficult ways,91裸聊视频� Blair told a news conference Thursday. 91裸聊视频淐hina is pursuing the most ambitious military buildup of any nation since the Second World War, and it91裸聊视频檚 looking to reshape the international system to advance its own interest.91裸聊视频�

Marles, who91裸聊视频檚 also Australia91裸聊视频檚 deputy prime minister, was in Vancouver for the bilateral meeting with Blair.

In a joint statement after the meeting, the countries condemned Russia91裸聊视频檚 invasion of Ukraine, China91裸聊视频檚 actions in the South China Sea, North Korea91裸聊视频檚 ballistic missile testing, and reaffirmed a call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The ministers committed their armed forces to work together as hostile actions from China and Russia continue to test the global order.

91裸聊视频淥ur sovereignty in the Canadian arctic is being challenged by a number of potential adversaries, Russia and China in particular, but not exclusively,91裸聊视频� Blair said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 very similar to what we91裸聊视频檙e seeing in the Indo-Pacific.91裸聊视频�

Blair said the closely allied nations are 91裸聊视频減reparing to avoid war,91裸聊视频� showing unity in the face of adversaries whose actions go against 91裸聊视频済lobal interests of maintaining a peaceful environment.91裸聊视频�

Marles said Canada and Australia91裸聊视频檚 co-operation is seeking to deter hostile actors, and avoiding conflict is 91裸聊视频渇ront and centre91裸聊视频� as both nations seek to understand and respond to threats in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere.

He said the 91裸聊视频済lobal rules based order is more under pressure now than any point since the end of the Second World War.91裸聊视频�

Marles said Russia91裸聊视频檚 alliance with China on the eve of the invasion of Ukraine was a wake-up call about the interconnectedness of global theatres of conflict.

91裸聊视频淪uddenly, a conflict in eastern Europe became deeply relevant to us in the Indo-Pacific,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e live in a world where there is fragility and where the Indo-Pacific is highly relevant.91裸聊视频�

Marles said both Canada and Australia have worked to 91裸聊视频渦nderstand the strategic challenges that we face, and therefore what kind of a defence force we need to build in order to meet those challenges.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淏oth of us have come to the conclusion that the Indo-Pacific matters.91裸聊视频�

Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press