Australia quietly pursues diplomatic avenues for WikiLeaks founder Assange
Australia has intensified behind-the-scenes diplomacy aimed at securing Julian Assange’s release. Officials in Canberra have been engaging trusted allies through established channels to explore practical options, with private discussions reportedly taking place at senior government levels in the United States. The Sydney Morning Herald notes that Canberra’s approach is grounded in careful diplomacy rather than public announcements.
In a news cycle marked by cautious optimism, an unnamed government source cited in Australian reporting indicated that the Assange matter was being steered toward a favorable resolution. The claim was allegedly discussed during recent talks between Albanian representatives and American officials, signaling a potential shift in how the issue is being handled on the international stage, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
During a question-and-answer session in Melbourne, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reflected on his previous stance as opposition leader, reiterating support for Assange’s release while declining to confirm specific developments. He underscored the need to manage the process with discretion and to work with Australia’s partners through diplomatic channels, without disclosing operational details.
Albanese remarked that his late-2010s position already favored reaching a resolution that goes beyond ongoing legal proceedings. He pointed out that Assange had already faced substantial consequences due to the publication of materials and suggested that continuing political pressure would not yield constructive outcomes, a view he expressed in an interview with ABC outlets.
The reporting reflects a shift away from the stance of the Liberal-National coalition that governed from 2014 until last year. That government had supported leaving the case to judicial authorities in the United Kingdom and the United States. The current tone appears to open new pathways in the case and aligns with broader questions about finding the best path forward for all parties involved in the dispute.
Stella Assange, the founder’s wife, welcomed what she called Canberra’s recalibration, describing it as a sign of progress in conversations with allied partners. She told Australian public broadcasters that a clearer strategy could emerge through coordination with close partners, while stressing that the process must stay practical and well-structured to achieve a resolution.
Assange faces an extensive list of charges, including espionage and computer hacking, tied to disclosures about U.S. actions in Guantanamo Bay and military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq. The extradition process has moved through the British system, with the UK Home Office issuing an extradition order and a court determinations indicating the surrender is eligible for consideration by the UK government, per Home Office notices.
Following ministerial approval, the defense retains the option to appeal within a fourteen-day window, while authorities assess next steps in the United Kingdom. The case has stretched over more than a decade, with Assange detained at Belmarsh High Security Prison since 2019 as the legal process unfolds.
The case continues to attract international diplomatic attention as Canberra weighs strategic interests with long-standing alliances. Analysts suggest that the outcome could hinge on intricate intergovernmental negotiations, and any successful resolution would require careful coordination among Canberra, London, Washington, and Australia’s broader network of partners, according to multiple sources cited in the reporting.