‘It is extremely dubious whether uncritical, loyal support for a bad, failed American policy will have enhanced our standing as an ally in the long run. A reputation for being dumb but loyal and eager …
Articles by: "Graeme Dobell"
As a foreign affairs intellectual, Owen Harries was an idea-slinger with a measured draw and a true aim. A well-argued stoush suited this man from South Wales who embraced Washington and adopted Australia. Harries knew …
We have reached the mid-point of the year of Covid-19. Pandemics surge with the seasons while we seek order using the chronology of the calendar. Halfway through 2020, much has exploded, some old stuff has …
‘Covid-19 is a shared crisis—a reminder that many problems are best solved or, indeed, can only be solved through cooperation. At the heart of successful international cooperation is the concept that each country shares, rather …
The public history of Australia’s intelligence community involves isolated moments of creation by political leaders and long periods of silence behind the secrecy curtain. The public way stations in the history—in which the agencies were …
Since US President Richard Nixon journeyed to Beijing in 1972, America’s grand strategy for China has been to engage and hedge. Now the hedge is burnt and the engagement is off—no marriage of minds possible. …
The thought bubble of a travel bubble for Australia and New Zealand is transforming from bubble into action. The official title is ‘a trans-Tasman Covid-safe travel zone’ but it’s gotta be the ‘travel bubble’. Bubbles …
Australia has a split policy ticket on Donald Trump—quietly horrified at his multilateral impact, yet quite satisfied with the bilateral relationship. Multilateral smash-up contrasts with relative bilateral smoothness. Canberra clings to the Trump administration while …
Cascading wake-up moments have shaken Australia’s view of China over the past five years. The realisations—a succession of gee-whizz, crikey and oops events—have pushed Canberra to new places. The impact doesn’t amount to shock; this …
Australia must both hug the panda and slay the dragon. Simultaneously. A quarter of Australia’s international trade and well over a third of our exports go to a nation that might assault a Royal Australian …
A new layer of snow has settled atop the iciness of Australia’s relations with China. Beijing and Canberra bite and bicker over Covid-19. The words are hot but they speak of frigid relations. The diplomatic …
Covid-19 and China challenge Australia in the South Pacific. Add in the category-five severe tropical cyclone that’s just pounded Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga. The pandemic and the aftermath of Cyclone Harold constitute the …