27 Feb 2024
AUKUS is a Trump-style deal
He rebels against the language of a “rules-based order” but he is happy to talk business.
-
-
23 Feb 2024
Economic diplomacy: Strategic funding comes in from the cold
A new review may cast a revealing light on how the government uses third-party institutions to shape the country’s strategic thinking. -
-
19 Feb 2024
Kicking up a stink: Europe’s farmers, like those in Australia, are counting costs
International turmoil is having mixed political consequences both near and far. -
16 Feb 2024
Putting “Australia” at the centre of the country’s foreign policy
A “whole of nation” approach can better connect the various elements of Australia’s international engagement. -
15 Feb 2024
Go big or go home: Australia should invest at scale in Southeast Asia’s energy transition
The Paris Agreement will not succeed if the bid for net zero in Southeast Asia fails. -
14 Feb 2024
National security decision making: Learn from experience, and science
The old way isn’t good enough anymore. -
13 Feb 2024
ASEAN summit a chance for Australia to reach out to mainland Southeast Asia
Melbourne gathering is a unique chance for Australia to relate to Cambodia, Laos and Thailand in ways that do not depend on geopolitical alignment. -
12 Feb 2024
Australia’s nuclear energy debate doesn’t have to be partisan
The technical merits of nuclear power as part of a mix of energy sources should be the foundation for debate here – as it is elsewhere globally. -
9 Feb 2024
Australia and ASEAN: A storied history
After 50 years of dialogue, the relationship has matured on economic, political, and strategic interests. -
9 Feb 2024
Middle East turmoil and a US pause offer Australia LNG opportunities
On the way to net-zero, there is a chance to help bolster Asia’s regional energy security. -
8 Feb 2024
Myanmar and Australia: A partnership paved with good intentions
Australia’s rationale for engagement has long been a hope to moderate the excesses of the regime. It does not seem to have listened. -
7 Feb 2024
Whose security is really at stake? Gender must be prioritised in Australia‑PNG security agreement
More police can’t be the answer when police have long been part of the problem. -
6 Feb 2024
Southeast Asian maritime security: Australia can help
Australia should support Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei in developing their maritime governance capacity to enhance their resilience against threats. -
5 Feb 2024
Southeast Asia is the blessing Australia overlooks
Avoiding an unhealthy obsession with the superpowers, and instead focusing on Southeast Asia, will create compounding opportunities for Australia. -
2 Feb 2024
A practical way for Australia to help in the western Indian Ocean
Expanding the rollout of a Quad maritime domain awareness initiative would be a boost to security – for the region, and Australia. -
1 Feb 2024
Is AUKUS Pillar I unworkable?
The strategic logic might be compelling, but that alone won’t get the number of nuclear-powered subs built in time. -
1 Feb 2024
ASEAN and the arc of uncertainties
Australia will next month host a summit of Southeast Asia’s leaders. What will drive the agenda? And importantly, what won’t? -
24 Jan 2024
We need to talk about “strategic competition”
The narrow framing of Australian national security discourse has closed off the range of policy options available. -
23 Jan 2024
Australia and Brazil must seize the chance for closer green cooperation
Distance should not be a barrier to recognising – and enhancing – shared interests. -
23 Jan 2024
An Australian strategy for improved aid to Ukraine
More resources would be a good start – as well as diplomatic backing, better coordination, and a stronger statement about why democracy matters. -
22 Jan 2024
Diplomacy: How to pick those who represent us
Australia’s top envoys can draw out the best, whether professionals or politicians. -
19 Jan 2024
Beyond the try line: What PNG’s NRL team means for development
The plan is to spend big – but is this the right field? -
19 Jan 2024
Space surveillance and AUKUS: The power of awareness
A robust system for the surveillance of outer space, including through the use of space-based radar, is vital to national security. -
17 Jan 2024
Australia and Africa: Economic diplomacy is out of sync with investment ties
While other partners are taking care of business, Australia lacks the trade support it needs to thrive. -
8 Jan 2024
Five ideas from Allan Gyngell for a better foreign policy
Gyngell saw “national interest” as a matter for democratic discussion, always valuing the search for solutions. -
29 Dec 2023
Keeping languages alive in the family
How many Australians can speak one of Papua New Guinea’s many Indigenous languages – even those who work there? -
28 Dec 2023
Lithium, lightest metal on earth, carries heavy geopolitical weight
Instead of a source of great tech power competition, lithium should be key to a collective fight against climate change. -
22 Dec 2023
Why did PNG sign a Defence Cooperation Agreement with the US?
For Port Moresby, this deal is mainly about modernising PNG’s Defence Force – not a geopolitical ploy. -
21 Dec 2023
Australia must work with Bangladesh to stop the Rohingya boats
Extra aid is welcome. The next task is to build Bangladesh’s capabilities. -
20 Dec 2023
Albanese’s foreign policy speech: “Boring” sounds just right
Regular updates about Australia’s position in the world do the public a great service. -
20 Dec 2023
The great offshore decommissioning
More than 70 per cent of the world’s oil and gas production comes via ageing infrastructure rapidly approaching an economic limit. -
19 Dec 2023
Australia–PNG security agreement: A revamp for Pacific partnerships
A technical perspective into the intended operation of the bilateral security deal between the close neighbours. -
19 Dec 2023
Decoding good intelligence
Transparency – in the sense of a good public understanding of the role and value of intelligence – is essential to support. -
14 Dec 2023
Shifting Quad relief operations from theory to practice
A relief operation exercise would allow the Quad partners to draw in other countries and showcase a regional good. -
14 Dec 2023
Australia needs an open-source intelligence agency
Done right, this reform could also disrupt the culture of excessive secrecy. -
11 Dec 2023
The Beijing blowback should Australia get closer to Taiwan
Bilateral initiatives are not the only way for Australia to bolster Taiwan and signal its support. -
5 Dec 2023
Indonesia ratifies nuclear weapons ban treaty. Australia should too.
Why does the government remain at odds with the vast majority of its neighbours? -
5 Dec 2023
“Egregious stupidity”: The story of when Australia split with Kissinger over South Asia
On Kissinger’s final report card, his handling of India, Pakistan and the emergence of Bangladesh scores badly. -
4 Dec 2023
How to stop any repeat of the Australia-China sonar incident
A regional deal to close a loophole relating to the use of sonar in international law could be a good place to start. -
1 Dec 2023
Ignoring those forgotten
There is more shared history between China and Australia than many realise. -
29 Nov 2023
Southeast Asia's minerals: Opportunity knocks
Australia should make better use of its regional leadership in minerals technology, skills and governance. -
23 Nov 2023
A delicate dance: latest India allegations test the rules
How far can “strategic trust” be stretched? -
23 Nov 2023
Economic diplomacy: Hits and misses for Project Diversify
India and Vietnam are the rising new trade partners as business cools on China amid new American protectionism. -
22 Nov 2023
Does Australia’s walk match its talk about helping Pacific women advance?
Big dollars are one thing, meaningful outcomes another. -
21 Nov 2023
Australia and space: A step together for the whole nation
A national space policy is needed to ensure Australia consistently engages across government, industry and global partners alike. -
20 Nov 2023
Sonar reports much more than a blip in Australia’s relations with China
The latest incident, the first to injure Australian military personnel, appears to signal China’s willingness to test the red line. -
20 Nov 2023
What roles should sport play in Australia’s image and diplomacy?
The government has dropped the ball in the strategic opportunity presented by sports. -
20 Nov 2023
Pacific Aid Map: Big data gaps are skewing the story about women
Better reporting is needed to properly understand which projects are targeting gender issues in the region. -
18 Nov 2023
China’s sonar pulse poses another test of Australia’s will
Even with international law on its side, Australia is still grappling with the conundrum of whether might makes right.