Uruguay |
Australia |
Australia–Uruguay relations are foreign relations between Australia and Uruguay. Australia is represented in Uruguay through its embassy in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and an honorary consulate in Montevideo. Uruguay has an embassy in Canberra and a general consulate in Sydney.
Australia and Uruguay share an interest in the Southern Ocean and the fisheries therein. Both countries are full members of the Cairns Group and the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. A number of incidents have taken place in Antarctic waters involving Uruguayan-flagged sailing boats and Australian officers.
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Australia and Uruguay have friendly relations due to shared political and economic interests.[1] Since 1996, Diego L. Payssé is Australia's Honorary Consul in Montevideo.[2] The two countries' foreign ministers met in New York City during a 2008 United Nations General Assembly meeting and discussed ways to increase links between Australia and Uruguay.[3]
In August 2003, the Australian government boarded a suspected illegal fishing vessel, the Viarsa I, in Antarctic waters. The vessel was boarded by personnel from the Australian customs and fisheries patrol boat Southern Supporter, backed by armed South African enforcement officers.[4] A Uruguayan was detained and taken into custody of the Australian government.[5] The detainment of the official caused a rift between Australia and Uruguay, who demanded the official's immediate release.[5] Australian Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald claimed that the official along with the rest of the crew be charged under Australian law.[6] Uruguay then ordered the fishing vessel home to face local law, causing a strain on the relations between the two countries who each thought the ship should be prosecuted under their own jurisdictions.[7] Still, the two countries stated they were cooperating to resolve their difficulties.[8]
Four months after the initial incident, HMAS Warramunga intercepted the Uruguayan-flagged Maya V in the Southern Ocean about 4,000 kilometres (2,200 nmi) south west of Perth.[9] Prime Minister John Howard boarded and thanked the crew for their work fighting illegal fishing saying, "Australians feel very strongly that people who want to illegally fish in our waters, who want to pillage our assets, should be repelled and, where appropriate, apprehended."[10] Two top officials representing Uruguay and Australia met to discuss issues involving the Maya V incident. Uruguayan Ambassador to Australia Pedro Mo Amaro said in a statement on the news, "We agree with all the measures Australian authorities have taken but not with these measures against the crew," he went on to say "We think the crew is innocent - they have not committed any offences."[11] The crew involved later were charged varying fines and released back to Uruguay.
Economic relations include monetary aid between the two nations.[1] Australian imports totalled 27 million Australian Dollars in the period between 2007 and 2008. Australia exported 24 million Australian Dollars worth of items to Uruguay.[1]
Uruguayan Australians are an ethnic minority in Australia with very small populations in larger Australian cities. The first migrants from Uruguay came to Australia during the 1960s during a time of political and economical hardship.[12] That population has grown slowly but at a steady pace into the 21st century despite the fact the turmoil has ended in Uruguay.
The two nations' respective national football team have competed with each other in the intercontinental playoffs for the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and 2006. Uruguay advanced in the former edition while Australia qualified in the latter.
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