A look at who has stood in the chamber – and why it matters less than it seems.

Kim is consolidating ties with a small cluster of partners – Moscow matters, but China offers a particular prize.

If states are trying to become less dependent on one another, they’re unlikely to bind themselves into tight collective arrangements.

Australia’s crisis-driven communication is a symptom of the deeper problem: a failure to treat statecraft as conversation.

For politicians who reach for South Asia’s traditional garb, cultural literacy matters far more than a perfect drape.

Europe is searching for a lifeline while the Indian mood on the United States has truly soured.

The case for fashion as foreign policy communication.

Shared threats and defence priorities make a formal trilateral framework a logical next step.

Transactional diplomacy doesn’t just insult allies – it destroys the patient work that keeps the world stable.

A contest between Fiji and Palau should not distract from the main aim to ensure regional priorities are met.

The president’s ambitious foreign policy agenda relies on already stretched diplomatic and economic capabilities.

Recent appointments of male envoys to London and Washington highlight persistent gender gaps at DFAT's highest level.

In Southeast Asia, democracy has gone digital, with online influencers and propaganda teams shaping the narratives.

A hit Canadian TV series showcases everything that’s right about cultural confidence.

Washington hasn’t changed its behaviour towards allies and adversaries – only its honesty about it.

Bangladesh will find other neighbourhood allegiances if New Delhi persists with its cricket coercion.

The closure of the former republic’s embassy in Japan shows allied democracies’ slow creep towards diplomatic fatigue.

The strike on Venezuela has sparked debate about sovereignty and legality. But the episode reveals a deeper truth about the enduring explanatory power of foreign-policy realism.

From Beijing to Washington, words only work if strategy and resources match promises.

DFAT has evolved to be more diverse – but is it equipped to face the challenges of a multipolar world?

From Nixon’s downfall to Merkel’s success, history offers hard lessons for those behind the throne.

A carefully worded extradition treaty means New Delhi can hedge its bets, but it should be prepared for blowback.

A new emphasis in diplomacy isn’t all downside.

From the Quad to trilateral arrangements, purpose-driven partnerships are delivering where multilateral institutions struggle.

As a middle power, Australia needs both bold decision-makers and quick-witted rationalists. Those skills can be taught.

The Foreign minister’s pledge to prioritise diplomats over politicians hasn’t extended to breaking one posting tradition.

A foreign service known for being informal and egalitarian has worked a treat for Canberra’s envoys. But does it reward boldness?

From medal moments to tourism corridors, a Pacific-focused sports diplomacy strategy could transform regional ties.

For middle powers, the ability to help partners withstand shocks may prove more valuable than raw strength.

The Albanese playbook on quiet engagement bolsters the country’s reputation for reliability. And that’s good for business.

With a global roll call of stars, Australia could build disaster resilience and environmental credibility.

More than geography, the coordinates of a state are borne of ideology, history and power perceptions.

An Australia–Asia green energy transmission link will test sovereignty, diplomatic leverage, and maritime security.

City-to-city agreements are creating small but powerful connections for Taiwan in ways its national officials cannot.

When it comes to soft power, a little more humility and a lot less swagger would work in Canberra’s favour.

Once pariahs, the Taliban are seen as partners in a region where pragmatism rules.

A civil war in the African republic reveals the limits of moral authority in a world of competing strategic interests.

Penny Wong's initiative is conceptually muddled but might still be smart diplomacy in Southeast Asia

Flattering Trump may win short-term favour only to create a dynamic that will weaken future negotiating positions.

When pop stars become geopolitical indicators.

Myanmar’s military ruler celebrates receiving formal correspondence from Washington, seeing diplomatic validation despite sanctions.

Does Australia really want to fund rival codes against each other in Pacific competition with Beijing?

With pressure mounting at home over a Trump meeting and a forthcoming Beijing trip raising questions about alliance priorities, the PM must show relations run both ways.

With influence its main power, the Holy See is seeking to exert a more global reach.

The art of deciphering Beijing’s carefully guarded politics has been reawakened under Xi’s increasingly secretive rule.

Hun Sen’s leaked recording of Thai PM exposes how unregulated informal diplomacy can threaten regional stability.

Military hotlines and exercise notifications could reduce escalation risks while acknowledging persistent misreading of intent.

Reducing America’s global diplomatic presence to pre-Second World War levels will only lead to declining influence.

In a world where power is defined by networks rather than borders, Taipei’s quiet diplomacy is making headway.

There is nothing new in weaponising airwaves to shape hearts and minds across borders.