Relationship dossier
Australia
Russia
Relationship assessment
Relations are substantially adversarial, shaped chiefly by Australia's response to Russia's actions in Ukraine and Russian countermeasures.
Australia toward Russia
-55Australia imposed sanctions on Russian individuals and entities following Russia's actions in Ukraine, expanded sanctions after the 2022 invasion, and provided military assistance to Ukraine. In 2023, Australia blocked a proposed Russian embassy site near Parliament on national-security grounds.
Russia toward Australia
-55Russia imposed travel restrictions on Australian officials in response to Australian sanctions and included Australia among states it considered unfriendly. These measures followed Australia's support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.
Overall relationship
-55The relationship is shaped by sustained confrontation over Russia's actions in Ukraine: Australian sanctions and military assistance to Ukraine have been met by Russian restrictions and retaliatory measures. The embassy-site dispute adds a direct bilateral security dimension. These features outweigh the limited scope of known cooperation.
How 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
Australia-Russia relations have become substantially adversarial, especially since Russia's annexation of Crimea and its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Australia imposed sanctions on Russian individuals and entities and provided military assistance to Ukraine. Russia responded with sanctions targeting Australian officials and treated Australia as an unfriendly state. Australia also blocked a proposed Russian embassy site near Parliament on national-security grounds.
Areas of tension
- Australia's sanctions on Russian individuals and entities
- Australia's military assistance to Ukraine
- Russian travel restrictions on Australian officials
- Russia's designation of Australia as an unfriendly state
- Australia's blocking of a proposed Russian embassy site near Parliament
Key developments
Australia imposed sanctions on Russia following its annexation of Crimea.
Following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Australia expanded sanctions and provided military assistance to Ukraine; Russia imposed travel restrictions on Australian officials.
Australia blocked a proposed Russian embassy site near Parliament on national-security grounds.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of remaining bilateral diplomatic and consular engagement is unclear.
- The extent of any continuing cooperation outside the Ukraine-related disputes is unclear.