Blog
Oceania
A Little Less Like-minded? Australia and the US Under Trump 2.0
By Grant Wyeth
How does Australia approach a world where the idea of the U.S. being a “like-mind” becomes questionable?
The Australia-Pacific Bid to Host UN Climate Talks in 2026 Is in Limbo
By Wesley Morgan
A decision won’t be made until June 2025, but Australia shouldn’t wait to take action.
Australia-China Relations: From Comprehensive Strategic Partners to Frenemies
By Muhammad Murad
The election of Donald Trump will pose new challenges for the fragile rapprochement between China and Australia.
What Lies Behind Melbourne’s Rash of Firebombings?
By Morgan Reinwald
Organized crime groups are capitalizing on the country's tobacco taxes, which are among the highest in the world.
Australia Gives a Firm ‘No’ to UK-US Agreement to Advance Nuclear Technology
By Michelle Grattan
The Albanese government declined to join its AUKUS partners in advancing the nuclear energy industry, sparking criticism from the opposition.
Australia Holds the Key to a Fair Deal for Timor-Leste
By Shannon Brincat
Timor-Leste doesn’t have much, but it does have vast reserves of gas. Should it be able to be extracted in the name of climate justice?
The Treaty Principles Bill Is Already Straining Social Cohesion in New Zealand
By Alexander Gillespie and Claire Breen
A referendum on the issue of Maori rights under the Treaty of Waitangi could be even more divisive.
How the Pacific Voted in the US Election
By Patricia O’Brien
On November 5, voters went to the polls on U.S. Pacific islands: the state of Hawai'i and the three U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI).
Will Australian Domestic Politics Experience the Trump Effect?
By Grant Wyeth
Trump isn’t popular in Australia, but he is a highly influential cultural figure. How will his reelection affect Australia’s domestic politics as it approaches a federal election by May 2025?
Trump Victory Could Spark a Rethink for New Zealand at APEC in Peru
By Geoffrey Miller
For New Zealand, Trump’s overwhelming win in the U.S. election might spark a rethink of its policy of aligning more closely with Washington.
Fiji’s Foreign Policy White Paper: Proponent of Peace or Pandering to Power in the Indo-Pacific?
By Merewalesi (Mere) Nailatikau
Fiji seems inclined to promote a particular brand of peacemaking that aligns with the powerful.
New Zealand Is Falling Behind in Protecting Its Oceans
By Karen Scott
New Zealand must step up to protect its own oceans to match international commitments made at the Commonwealth leaders’ meeting.