Australia’s Labor gvt won big, but what does that mean for foreign policy? Expect + aid to Southeast Asia & Pacific, + blended finance & COP31 bid with #Pacific. But no budget bump, and a narrowing global focus. @gracestanhope.bsky.social @lowyinstitute.bsky.social thediplomat.com/2025/05/what...

Trump's global tariffs hit Australia too. Despite close ties, we're not exempt. Small direct impact but big risk: global trade disruption, especially with China. Could Australia retaliate? By @lowyinstitute.bsky.social IPDC Roland Rajah www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

Climate pledge delays: The world can’t afford more hot air - by @lowyinstitute.bsky.social IPDC @georgiahammersley.bsky.social Global temps have exceeded 1.5°C, yet major emitters are delaying climate commitments. With the US absent, global ambition is at risk. www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

#Indonesia is now a key player in the global EV supply chain - but is its nickel strategy truly paying off? A new @lowyinstitute.bsky.social IPDC paper by @robwalk3r.bsky.social and Hilman Palaon explores the gains, risks, and what’s next. Read more: www.lowyinstitute.org/publications...

UK slashes aid budget by 40%, joining global retreat from development funding. With USAID frozen & Europe scaling back, Australia stands increasingly alone in the Indo-Pacific, by @lowyinstitute.bsky.social IPDC @gracestanhope.bsky.social R.Duke www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

“There are 26 US government agencies and departments that run aid programs and the administration would be wise to consolidate foreign aid agencies as much as is practical,” writes Lester Munson in The Interpreter. https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/what-s-next-usaid

US aid freeze: what should Australia do? We can’t replace the US, but we can work with others, step up aid, defend multilaterals & lead diplomatically for better development cooperation IPDC @lowyinstitute.bsky.social Roland Rajah @gracestanhope.bsky.social www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

Has China already won the Global Race? Apple struggles in Indonesia while Chinese firms localise & win influence. Across Global South, China delivers speed & pragmatism, while U.S. firms fall behind - from @lowyinstitute.bsky.social IPDC Hilman Palaon @nikkei-asia.com asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Chin...

Trump’s Aid Freeze: What’s at Stake? It won’t break the #Pacific, but it will cause disruptions. In Southeast Asia, Myanmar & Cambodia face the biggest hit, with threats to governance & health programs. Australia, Japan & the EU will need to step up www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

#Vanuatu & 132 nations take the fight for #ClimateJustice to the ICJ, seeking clarity on states' legal duties to protect people & the planet. Will this case bring accountability, or another delay? By @lowyinstitute.bsky.social IPDC Melanie Pill www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

Trump's America First risks ceding more ground to #China in #Pacific - without coordination with allies like Australia, Washington may fall further behind. Riley Duke and I use our @lowyinstitute.bsky.social #Pacific Aid Map in @nikkei.com asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Trum...

🚨 Trump 2.0 could upend Global Development: ❌ Cuts to its $63B budget in US aid ❌ Reduced climate & health funding ❌ Multilateral retreat With #China ready to fill the void, #Australia ’s role in the #Pacific & SE Asia is ever more important. www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

#Earthquake We no longer have an embassy, but this evening, with a dozen military personnel, we are preparing the residence: satellite connection, water, electricity, camp beds and so on. We're up and running again, and ready to help our fellow citizens and friends in Vanuatu.

New analysis by @robwalk3r.bsky.social from @lowyinstitute.bsky.social IPDC: Australia's industrial policy balances openness w/ ambition. While major powers ramp up subsidies, Australia’s cautious approach supports clean energy and liberalises trade www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

How can MDBs boost lending without risking AAA ratings? 1. Adapt approach defining risk tolerance 2. Give + credit to callable capital 3. Expand use of financial innovations 4. Improve credit rating agency assessment of MDB financial strength 5. + access to MDB data cdn.gihub.org/umbraco/medi...

The #COP29 agreement falls short, with a weak new climate finance goal and no progress on last year's pledge to "transition away" from fossil fuels. My Lowy Institute colleague Melanie Pill and I unpack the key outcomes here: www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

New from the 2024 @lowyinstitute.bsky.social Pacific Aid Map: #Pacific Island countries aren’t just aid recipients—they’re also donors, supporting one another bilaterally and through regional institutions. Read the analysis by Nasirra Ahsan and me: www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

Glad that my first post on @bsky.app is about the 2024 Pacific Aid Map, the most comprehensive database of aid & development flows to the #Pacific ever assembled. 14 countries, 97 development partners, 37,000 projects: pacificaidmap.lowyinstitute.org @lowyinstitute.bsky.social Few key findings 1/9