Foreign Relations of Australia - South Asia and Western Asia

Australia has had relations with Afghanistan since the 1860s when Afghan camel riders came to Australia. The Ghan train is named after them. Australia has been fighting against the Taliban in the Afghanistan war since 2001. Australia has contributed nearly $500 million in assistance to Afghanistan since they entered the war and has accepted many Afghan refugees.

-Australia was the fourth country, and the first in the developed world, to recognise Bangladesh's independence in 1971. A high commission was opened in Dhaka and relations have been warm since then. - In 2008, Bangladesh signed a bilateral counter-terrorism MOU with Australia, their first with any country. ' - The number of Bangladeshis in Australia has increased in recent years. - Bangladesh is a significant recipient of foreign aid from Australia.

- Australia recognized Georgia's independence in 1992. - Australia's embassy in Turkey is accredited to Georgia, Georgia have a consulate in Australia. - In 2008, Australia provided $1 million in humanitarian aid to Georgia in the aftermath of their war with Russia. - There are modest trade relations

In 2009, relations were strained between the two nations by attacks on Indian students, termed "Curry Bashings" in Melbourne. Police denied any racial motivation, but this was viewed differently by the government in India leading to high-level meetings with Australian officials.

• Australia opened an embassy in Tehran in 1968 and Iran have had an embassy in Canberra since 1971.
• Their two way trade has diminished in recent years but was still over $200 million in 2011
• Australia, like most Western countries, have expressed concerns about Iran's human rights record and their nuclear weapons program.
• There are 25,000 people of Iranian descent living in Australia.

• Australia and Iraq have had differing relations since 1938, currently improving since the fall of Saddam Hussein.
• Australia provides foreign aid but there is also a modest trade relationship that both countries strive to enlarge in the coming years.
• There is a sizeable Iraqi community in Australia.
• In 2009, prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki became the first Iraqi prime minister to visit Australia. He and then Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd signed a declaration to increase co-operation and strengthen trade and investment ties.

• Australia has an embassy in Tel Aviv.
• Israel has an embassy in Canberra.
• There are 120,000 Jews living in Australia.
• Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Israel

• Jordan is one of Australia's most important allies in the Middle East.
• Australia has an embassy in Amman and Jordan have an embassy in Canberra.
• Trade relations are significant, valued at over $150 million.

• Australia enjoys friendly relations with Lebanon. They have an embassy in Beirut and Lebanon have an embassy in Canberra.
• There are 74,000 Lebanese-born people in Australia, mainly in Sydney, and there are more people of Lebanese descent including Marie Bashir and Hazem El Masri.
• Australia has a modest trade relationship with Lebanon and also have given foreign aid in the aftermath of the Lebanese civil war.

The relations between the two countries have been friendly, with former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf having visited Australia in 2005 and the former Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, also having extended a visit to Pakistan in 2005 as well, following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake which had immensely targeted the northern areas of Pakistan. He also announced 500 new scholarships for students in Pakistan to study in Australia.

• Saudi Arabia is one of Australia's most important trading partners in the Middle East, two-way trade was valued at $1.9 billion in 2011.
• Australia has an embassy in Riyahd and Saudi Arabia have an embassy in Canberra
• A large number of Saudi students are choosing to study in Australia, mostly under the King Abdullah Scholarship Program. In 2009, 12,500 Saudi students were enrolled in Australian educational institutions.

• Bilateral relations are generally warm, supported by trade, investment flows, education, immigration and other development cooperations. Australia is also a member in helping the economic and social development of Sri Lanka.
• In 2007 a two-way trade agreement was created between Australia and Sri Lanka valued at $232 million a year. The trade agreement includes exports from Australia such as vegetables and dairy products. Tea and other foods, textiles, clothing, rubber, iron and steel which are the main imports from Sri Lanka.
• In 2008–09 the estimated budget for aid to Sri Lanka is $27 million.

Sri Lanka Country Brief

• Australia has an embassy in Ankara since 1968, a consulate-general in Istanbul and a consulate in Çanakkale.
• Turkey has had an embassy in Canberra since 1967 and two consulates-general in Melbourne and Sydney.
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Australia
• Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Turkey

• Australia has an embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate in Dubai. The UAE have an embassy in Canberra
• Both countries have extensive trade relations. In 2009, trade was worth over A$4.25 billion.
• There are 91 flights per week between the two countries and there are roughly 12,000 to 15,000 Australians living and working in the UAE
• The countries have a shared strategic view on regional security, thanks to high-level dialogue between them.