Despite their reliance on multilateralism when pushing for greater climate action, Pacific Island States have become less willing to recognise the right to self-determination of other vulnerable groups at the UN. This shift in voting erodes norms around global solidarity and may prove ultimately self-sabotaging ..read more

Australia and New Zealand engage in wide-ranging daily cooperation, but seldom refer to the alliance between them. Has the alliance become irrelevant? Or is it so taken-for-granted, and the habits of cooperation so entrenched, that it is seen as unnecessary to emphasise it?   ..read more

Bangladesh's interim government, under Dr. Muhammad Yunus, faces a pivotal moment to reshape its Myanmar policy amid evolving dynamics in Rakhine. By addressing the Rohingya refugee crisis and leveraging strategic ties with the Arakan Army alongside international partners, Dhaka can strike a balance with Myanmar's State Administration Council while asserting regional leadership ..read more

In his inaugural address on 10 November 2024, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar emphasised the importance of forging a “natural alliance” with the Kurdish nation. While not specifying which segment of Kurdistan his office seeks to engage with, the statement raises an important question: how can a sovereign state establish an alliance with a non-state actor ..read more

China has recently praised Australia's independent foreign policy, with Xi Jinping and Anothony Albanese holding friendly talks at the G20 and planning a future meeting in China. This highlights Beijing's effort to court traditional US allies amid concerns over a potential second Donald Trump term in the White House ..read more

Written by Liubov Korina The interplay between international security, violations of humanitarian law and power politics has given way to a landscape that supports nuclearism. As such, the world still seems in the midst of a nuclear arms race, with ongoing global conflicts imbedding the ‘state of security’ to coexist with weapons of mass destruction ..read more

On 26 November 2024, the Australian Institute of International Affairs NSW hosted Dr Alexey Muraviev, Associate Professor of National Security and Strategic Studies at Curtin University. Dr Muraviev drew on his extensive academic experience of studying Russia’s strategic and defence policy to offer expert analysis of the uncertain strategic circumstances the Baltic countries face, potential ..read more

The ICC's arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders have sparkd a debate on the application of international law and the dehumanisation of belligerents. Narratives of “civilisation” and exclusion undermine the principles of justice in the laws of war ..read more

This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese meets with President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel; a new agreement to collaborate on research on emerging missile threat defence between Australia and Canada; Wong announces a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, and more ..read more

Economic sanctions have long been used as a nonviolent foreign policy tool to influence the behaviour and policies of targeted states. While they are often effective in prompting policy changes in democratic countries, they frequently fall short in altering the course of authoritarian regimes.  ..read more