23 Jan 2023
With travel back, summit diplomacy is revamped
The foreign policy calendar for 2023 is stacked for a big year of geopolitics.
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20 Jan 2023
An enduring formula for Australian foreign policy
Relationships, forums and neighbours are still a winning combination for Canberra on the global stage. -
28 Nov 2022
Confident, competent, inconsistent: Australia’s strategic personality
Canberra’s report card receives a solid “pleasing result” on Southeast Asia, but a “could do better” on the Pacific. -
25 Nov 2022
Fruits of labour: Guatemala’s 30 minutes with the PM
With farmers in Australia crying out for more workers, some outside-the-box thinking could help. -
16 Nov 2022
“Big differences to manage”: Albanese and Xi put a value on diplomacy
The government can say Australia didn’t have to give up interests or values to restart dialogue. -
8 Nov 2022
COP out: Should Albanese be in Egypt? And what about APEC? G20? EAS?
The demands on leaders in global diplomacy have only grown but that hasn’t made negotiations more meaningful. -
24 Oct 2022
Australia’s road to Geneva
The League of Nations gave delegates from the antipodes a taste for progressive internationalism that remains today. -
4 Oct 2022
Diversity and inclusion: Australia’s global aim to walk the talk
It helps to ensure feelings of respect and value infuse diplomacy – and the management of foreign relations, too. -
3 Oct 2022
“See it through my lens”: the optics of fashion diplomacy
Sunglasses are a staple in the US President’s diplomatic style but not every leader can share the benefit. -
13 Sep 2022
Computational diplomacy - the science of an art?
Vast troves of historical data exist on negotiations and responses and agreements. The trick is a means to read it. -
5 Sep 2022
If Brazil’s ambassador could seed a few ideas with the Prime Minister
Australia has a growing personal connection to the South American giant, with diplomatic ties yet to catch up. -
2 Sep 2022
“Should democracies ever lie?” Sort of. Maybe. Not really
Bending the truth corrupts confidence in democratic institutions and risks a race to the bottom. -
25 Aug 2022
Penny Wong on “30 minutes with the PM” and Australia’s global interest
The Foreign Minister was asked about the new Interpreter series and her answer was an insight into balancing priorities. -
24 Aug 2022
Prime Minister, Uruguay’s ambassador is here for your meeting
A sticky question about a prohibited import to Australia might give Anthony Albanese something to chew over. -
9 Aug 2022
There must be a better way: Australia’s diplomatic appointments
Transparency in deciding who gets to represent the country abroad can only be a benefit. -
8 Aug 2022
The opportunities of cross-public service diplomacy
Collaborations between Australia and its regional partners on skills, knowledge and capacity offer a win-win scenario. -
26 Jul 2022
The future is female, but women in diplomacy still under-represented
It’s two steps forward, one step back for gender parity in Australian international relations. -
26 Jul 2022
Pacific Islands Forum meeting: the black cloud returns
A continued dispute over the Secretary General position has challenged unity of the Pacific family. -
2 Jun 2022
Knowledge is power: A small investment for a big return
Australia should see that training rights advocates across the region can be an effective means to bolster democracy. -
24 May 2022
Rejuvenating DFAT: increasing diversity and becoming less insular
Harnessing the experience and skills of the entire Australian community is the foundation for strong diplomacy. -
20 May 2022
A strategy for uncertain times
Is a case-by-case approach good enough for Australia to respond to the great and developing regional challenges? -
19 May 2022
Looking for a little sizzle from the 2022 election campaign
As one of the world’s oldest stable democracies, Australia can do better in its election foreign policy discussion. -
19 May 2022
Getting the most from Australia’s regional engagements
As in-person meetings restart after Covid, it’s time to assess what resources support the many strategic groupings. -
13 May 2022
China and the West: It’s about understanding each other
The former Australian prime minister offers indispensable insights into how to go back to relationship basics. -
11 May 2022
The case for rejuvenating DFAT
Foreign ministries no longer monopolise a country’s global voice. But some practical fine tuning will enhance diplomacy. -
5 May 2022
Scott Morrison wins. So where to next for Australia in the world?
A returned Coalition government faces immediate headaches (and opportunities) in its foreign policy. -
3 May 2022
Imagining Labor’s first 100 days in foreign policy
It’s 22 May. And although Anthony Albanese is yet to get his feet under the desk, priorities are already piling up. -
31 Mar 2022
War represents a failure of diplomacy. It pays to read past page one.
I hope Ukraine’s ambassador enjoyed reading my book in the Security Council. Here’s the message I wanted to send. -
30 Mar 2022
A silver lining to DFAT’s budgetary woes
A funding boost to diplomacy won’t instantly lift Australia’s influence. Better to think hard on what the country needs. -
24 Mar 2022
Madeleine Albright: “I have come a long way, so I must be frank”
The first woman to serve as US Secretary of State also inspired the first woman to be Australia’s Foreign Minister. -
28 Feb 2022
Australia was quick to sanction Moscow. Why not Myanmar?
It was right to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But that’s different to military aggression much closer to home. -
25 Feb 2022
Why was it left to Kenya to speak up for multilateralism?
Kenya’s UN envoy Martin Kimani was a sensation at an emergency Security Council session—with a message for all nations. -
17 Dec 2021
The multilateralism menu: The Interpreter’s 2021 favourites
Want a slice of the regional pie? Or to understand the spaghetti strands of national ambition? We’ve just the dish. -
14 Dec 2021
Why isn’t Australia putting diplomacy first?
Canberra is out of step with its key allies with one of the most potent tools its international arsenal. -
9 Nov 2021
Do Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships matter?
Scott Morrison is an enthusiast. But Australia’s one with China proved little more than the proverbial “scrap of paper”. -
8 Nov 2021
Sinking trust
Sparing between Scott Morrison and Emmanuel Macron is about more than a broken deal but the manner it was conveyed. -
13 Oct 2021
Zooming out of digital diplomacy
It’s time to think beyond the videoconference to allow countries to trust again. -
27 Aug 2021
Australia and LGBTQI rights
Canberra needs a loud and proud foreign policy on the human rights of gender and sexual minorities. -
26 Aug 2021
What’s in a name? The Taliban and recognition under international law
Formal recognition as a legitimate government may be a bargaining chip to press the Taliban to respect human rights. -
11 Aug 2021
Pandemic plight of international students will leave Australia poorer
Lonely days during an education abroad will deplete Australia’s soft power reserves. -
6 Aug 2021
Refreshing American soft power in the Pacific Islands
Tales of past wars no longer resonate. The US has better stories to tell, not least of its own stumbles with democracy. -
29 Jul 2021
Economic diplomacy: Going for gold in 20 years and counting
Brisbane will host the Olympics in 2032 but the starter’s gun has already sounded in the cost versus benefits contest. -
28 Jul 2021
Far more world leaders visit China than America
If leadership diplomacy was an Olympic sport, Beijing beats Washington to the gold medal. -
9 Jul 2021
The changing face of Australia’s diplomatic network
A stocktake shows rising political appointments but Australia’s heads of mission now far better reflect the population. -
7 Jul 2021
Personality in foreign policy
How leaders interact and are judged can shape a country’s approach to the world as much as economics or military might. -
2 Jul 2021
Forgiveness not permission: A feminist foreign policy
If Australia wants to adopt a values-based approach to the world, the next step is obvious. -
15 Jun 2021
Australia’s China politics heats up
The “bad strategy” towards Beijing is exposed as the gloves come off in Australia’s domestic foreign policy debates. -
9 Jun 2021
China overtakes America in presidential diplomacy
Memo for the White House: You should get out more. -
25 May 2021
PNG can’t turn a blind eye to the conflict next door
As popular support for West Papua grows more vocal, PNG officials walk a diplomatic tightrope. -
24 May 2021
ASEAN’s huge gamble on Myanmar
If it doesn’t move quickly on its hard-won consensus, the organisation risks letting the junta call the shots.