Countries in Asia are hedging against China’s regional ambitions and against the uncertainty projected by the Trump administration. Australia is part of this process. (more…)
John McCarthy
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Trump, Greenland and Australia’s alliance reality check
Trump’s behaviour towards Greenland is a warning sign for alliances, values and Western credibility. Australia may need to weigh ANZUS more hard-headedly and build greater strategic autonomy.
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Best of 2025 – Mr Albanese goes to Washington
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is scheduled to meet President Donald Trump in Washington on 20 October. (more…)
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Best of 2025 – Brave new world
As Australia’s newly elected government seeks to navigate the shoals of President Donald Trump’s new world after the election on 3 May, it will behove us to think beyond our tariff concerns and AUKUS and focus on Southeast Asia. (more…)
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Mr Albanese goes to Washington
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is scheduled to meet President Donald Trump in Washington on 20 October. (more…)
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The city on a hill
Since President Trump’s inauguration, America’s friends and enemies — categories increasingly hard to define with precision — have been buffeted by the Administration’s policy vicissitudes. (more…)
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Brave new world
As Australia’s newly elected government seeks to navigate the shoals of President Donald Trump’s new world after the election on 3 May, it will behove us to think beyond our tariff concerns and AUKUS and focus on Southeast Asia. (more…)
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After the Trump inauguration
American presidential inaugurations traditionally nurture a sense of unity, pride and aspiration — drawing on the quality of American oratory brought to mind by John Kennedy and Barack Obama — that causes emotions to soar. (more…)
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Trump Redux: what matters to foreign relations
As the novelty of Donald Trump’s win wears off, we have moved beyond the superficialities of the views of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Ambassador Kevin Rudd about the Trump agenda and persona. (more…)
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Rediscovering Australia’s Asian destiny
Australia must awaken a spirit of enquiry and zest about our region and the belief that our destiny as a nation rests there. (more…)
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Comprehensive upgrade puts Australia in Vietnam’s top tier
The conclusion of a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” by two states leads few observers to experience frissons of excitement. However, the Partnership agreed yesterday between Anthony Albanese and Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Minh Chinh is more than an announceable wrought by officials to garner a headline or two for their principals. (more…)
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2024 Election: Indonesia’s Prabowo will not rule in anyone’s shadow
On 14 February, Indonesia holds simultaneous elections for the presidency and national and regional legislatures. The runes suggest the current Defence Minister, Prabowo Subianto is on track to be the next President. He will not be boring. (more…)
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State sanctioned killings are not the image of India we are used to
The revelations in recent weeks of Indian government involvement in the assassination in Vancouver of a Sikh separatist – and in a conspiracy to murder another in New York – may turn out to be what those in the diplomatic business call “manageable.” (more…)
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What the Voice means for Australia’s reputation
The outcome of the Voice referendum will affect Australia’s reputation – a fact voters should consider, writes John McCarthy. (more…)
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Indonesia could help bring China and US back from the brink
Widodo visit: Indonesia’s approach to regional security needs to be more than than fence-sitting. (more…)
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Time to heed the Global South
The so-called Global South does not feature much in Australian discourse. It should. It will impact on us. (more…)
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Vale Allan Gyngell
Perhaps now – more than ever – is the time when Australia needs outstanding foreign policy thinkers. It has lost one of its best with the death of Allan Gyngell after a short illness. (more…)
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Ukraine anniversary
The anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine war gives us pause to reflect on recent global shifts which affect our security. (more…)
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Vale Richard Woolcott: one of the last great Australian diplomats
Richard Woolcott leaves a legacy that all modern diplomats could emulate. (more…)
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There is more to Sri Lanka than boats and the Rajapaksa family
In the past 15 years, Australians have become used to thinking of Sri Lanka mainly as an island from where boats filled with asylees – and other venturesome folk – seek illegally to reach our shores. (more…)
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The Pelosi provocation-“All Politics Is Local” – until it isn’t
Years ago, one of Nancy Pelosi’s most noteworthy predecessors as Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Tip O’Neill, uttered the famous phrase: “All politics is local”. These words may have been on Pelosi’s mind when she decided to go to Taiwan. (more…)
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The international prime minister
Anthony Albanese is right to be taking time to meet key international leaders in his early days. But he faces a bigger task at home to create awareness of the growing challenges Australia faces in its immediate region. (more…)
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Foreign policy needs priority and balance
In the 1972 film, The Candidate, Robert Redford played a United States Senate hopeful, who, having unexpectedly won, turned to his political strategist and asked, “Marvin, what do we do now?” (more…)
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Ukraine defeat would smash the West’s global reputation.
Putin won’t go home without concessions from NATO, but that would involve a climbdown by the alliance that would damage the West’s reputation. (more…)
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It’s time for Australia to be a ‘smart power’ country
Australia has paid scant attention to the exercise of ‘soft’ power in recent years, but its effective use is a matter of national interest.
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AUKUS: We are moving fast from being a country with the self-respect of true independence.
The main British objective under their appalling political leadership seems to be to find something meaningful to do after the Brexit debacle… Joe Biden could not even remember Scott Morrison’s name. (more…)
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The shame of Kabul
Australia’s messy exit from Kabul is likely to be recorded in history as a moment of national ignominy.
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Afghanistan visa issue shows what Australia really is
The current debate about visas for Afghans poses questions about the sort of people we are.
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G7: Australia on the world stage for the wrong reasons
In summits, those involved never get everything they want. The trick is to persuade your audience – particularly your domestic one – that you have got most of it.
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Australia needs to draw a line between policy and posturing on China
The past few weeks have confirmed that the strategic parameters of our regional policy are basically sound. However, the self-righteousness of some of our statements and actions demonstrate overreach inconsistent with the national interest. (more…)