Australia and the Pacific

Weaving webs of statecraft in the Pacific Islands
Weaving webs of statecraft in the Pacific Islands
The April 2022 news that China and Solomon Islands had entered into a security pact solidified perceptions that Australia and its partners were in a race with China for “influence…
Confident, competent, inconsistent: Australia’s strategic personality
Confident, competent, inconsistent: Australia’s strategic personality
There is broad agreement that Australian diplomacy and defence policy need to change to meet the challenges posed by a more dynamic region. But does Australia need something more …
US and Australian development cooperation is underway. What’s the best pathway to impact?
Commentary
US and Australian development cooperation is underway. What’s the best pathway to impact?
This article originally appeared in Development Intelligence Lab's online blog, The Intel.
The Global Fragility Act in PNG: can the US succeed?
The Global Fragility Act in PNG: can the US succeed?
It was a long-awaited announcement that drew little attention in Australia. In April, US President Joe Biden named Haiti, Libya, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Coastal…
Building a better development finance institution: Australia’s opportunity
Building a better development finance institution: Australia’s opportunity
Last week, Roland Rajah and Jenny Gordon wrote illuminating pieces on the pros and cons of Australia setting up its own development finance institution, or DFI. The debate comes…
Pacific labour mobility and the existential threat of climate change
Pacific labour mobility and the existential threat of climate change
The consolidation of Australia’s identity as an Asia-Pacific nation is a work in progress. It is as a consistently attentive and engaged Asia-Pacific nation – rather than as a US…
Labor’s Pacific plan: ticking the economic box
Labor’s Pacific plan: ticking the economic box
Penny Wong, Australia’s new Foreign Minister, has quickly headed to the Pacific Island region inside her first week in the role. Wong’s intentions appear twofold: a counterbalance…
Fixing Australia’s failing Pacific Step-up strategy
Fixing Australia’s failing Pacific Step-up strategy
Publicly, Australia’s Pacific Step-up aims to win friends and influence people. Behind this facade however, a core purpose is to make sure the Pacific Islands don’t embrace China,…
Climate change in the Pacific – what Australia needs to do
Climate change in the Pacific – what Australia needs to do
Australia has long claimed a special relationship with Pacific island countries as their largest regional trade, investment, security and development partner. But these same…
The Pacific Islands become collateral damage on drug superhighway
The Pacific Islands become collateral damage on drug superhighway
The illicit drugs trade in the Pacific Islands continues to evolve despite Covid-19 border closures. The seizure of more than 500 kilograms of cocaine in Papua New Guinea in 2020…