Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated on Saturday that it is time to put an end to the long-running case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Wong made her remarks during a press conference in Brisbane following a meeting with ministers from Australia and the United States, noting that Canberra has clarified that "Mr. Assange's case has taken a long time, and we wish to bring it to a conclusion."
During the conference, which was attended by Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Wong mentioned, "I understand that Mr. Assange has submitted a new request for appeal in the UK. The Australian government is not a party to these legal proceedings, and we cannot intervene in them."
Blinken commented, "Mr. Assange is charged with very serious criminal conduct in the United States related to his alleged role in one of the largest information leaks in our country's history." He added, "The actions he is alleged to have committed pose a grave threat to our national security."
Assange, an Australian citizen currently detained in the UK, is fighting extradition to the United States, where he faces 18 charges related to the disclosure of classified U.S. military records and diplomatic cables in 2010. Australia supports a campaign to free Assange before his potential extradition to the United States.
