Relationship dossier
Antarctica
Australia
Relationship assessment
Australia claims and administers the Australian Antarctic Territory and participates in Antarctic governance.
Antarctica toward Australia
Not assessedAustralia toward Antarctica
+20Australia claims and administers the Australian Antarctic Territory, conducts Antarctic research, and participates in the Antarctic Treaty system, including its environmental framework. Antarctica has no sovereign government with which Australia could conduct reciprocal government relations.
Overall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Antarctica has no sovereign government capable of conducting an independent foreign policy. Australia claims and administers the Australian Antarctic Territory, maintains scientific operations there, and participates in the Antarctic Treaty system governing the continent.
Key developments
The Antarctic Treaty was signed, establishing a framework for peaceful use and scientific cooperation in Antarctica.
Australia's claim to the Australian Antarctic Territory dates to 1933.
Major uncertainties
- The practical scope of Australia's administration in the Australian Antarctic Territory under the Antarctic Treaty system is complex.
- The extent and continuity of Australia's scientific and environmental activities in Antarctica may change over time.