“Calling an election in Thailand is akin to throwing the cards in the air in the hope of a more favourable arrangement,” writes Susannah Patton in The Interpreter. https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/who-thailand-s-new-prime-minister-anutin-charnvirakul

“What is required is a willingness by the Prime Minister to speak more directly about Australia’s strategic circumstances,” writes Susannah Patton in The Interpreter. https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/does-australia-see-china-threat

'Paetongtarn’s inexperience has been on full display this week' writes @susannahpatton.bsky.social www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

My take on the renewed Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, drawing on lots of conversations with experts over the past two days at the Asia-Pacific Roundtable conference: www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

I've been thinking about starting an Indonesia-Australia relationship substack for years. Albo just popped up in Jakarta, so why not now? A quick look at the background to this trip. Please read/subscribe etc. if you like flatkopi.substack.com/p/prabowo-al...

Opposition leader Peter Dutton says first overseas visit would be to the United States, breaking longstanding tradition that Australian PMs make first bilateral visit to Indonesia. amp.abc.net.au/article/1050...

“Compared with other information flows in the region which we measure – news agencies, newspapers and TV – radio skews more favourably to the United States than any other medium,” writes Susannah Patton in The Interpreter. https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/silencing-voice-america

New Interpreter post from me: data from the Asia Power Index shows just how successful the Voice of America has been in Asia. The results of the next Asia Power Index may look very different … www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

I have conflicting thoughts on sanctioning Thai officials. While it aligns with US concerns for human rights (good), we are punishing Bangkok for not standing up to Beijing even as we alienate the Thais & fail to provide them with any alternative #Thailand www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/us-thai...

In a new episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, defence analyst Marcus Hellyer talks with the Lowy Institute’s Sam Roggeveen about the unprecedented appearance of Chinese warships off Australia’s east coast. youtube.com/watch?v=Ujvw...

Commentary: Japan is increasingly concerned that the U.S. may no longer be a reliable ally, especially as its shifting policies raise fears of a weakened security partnership amid rising threats from China and Russia.

Australia needs to respond with urgency to the second Trump administration, but framing the conversation around a narrowly cast Plan B would be self-defeating. 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...

In some ways aid cuts by Europeans are understandable but Australia already spends so little that any further restrictions here would have a disastrous impact. Sadly I don’t see any political support for expanding the aid budget in response to others’ cuts.

Pretty devastating blow for reputation of Thailand’s current government here. And a data point, ir one was needed, about China’s influence at the expense of international law www.voanews.com/amp/outcry-b...

NEW RESEARCH: This @lowyinstitute.bsky.social interactive map reveals how global trade with the world's two largest economies, the United States and China, has changed since 2001. interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/chi...

Is Timor-Leste joining ASEAN this year? It really wants to. en.tatoli.tl/2025/01/27/t... 1/6 🧵

Giving a talk today at the beautiful Vann Molyvann designed library building at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

Looking forward to visiting Phnom Penh and Hanoi next week for the first time in a while! Please get in touch if you’d like to meet up in either city! ✈️ 🇰🇭 ✈️ 🇻🇳

Huge Australia-Indonesia news as the remaining Bali nine members are returned home www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12...

Are there any teachers or academics on here who ever use the Asia Power Index in their teaching? If so, I would love to hear from you about how you use it … please let me know!

Important new Lowy Institute research from my colleague Rahman Yaacob released today: www.lowyinstitute.org/publications...

Oi. Get along if you can to this Melbourne event at the State Library of Victoria. It’ll be great fun to listen to @susannahpatton.bsky.social, Lydia Khalil and @becstrating.bsky.social. And I’ll be hanging around, too. portal.lowyinstitute.org/eventdetails...

Malaysia and Vietnam reach a CSP deal, but count the caveats on oil and gas cooperation in this line “consider establishing a mechanism to jointly develop cooperation in overlapping areas, if any” thediplomat.com/2024/11/viet...

3 announcements in the last 2 weeks from Aus gov with innovative financing for climate + development. Australia hasn't used these mechanisms a lot in the past but last year's Development Finance Review identified opportunities in blended finance + guarantees.

As a summit nerd this is the stuff I live for. In an era where multilateral consensus is getting harder, surely at least a photo should be possible... amp.theguardian.com/world/2024/n...

Two great starter packs for people interested in Southeast Asia: go.bsky.app/Rzj3ND9 go.bsky.app/2mwrXEg #SoutheastAsia #SEASky #SEAsiaSky

I recently had the chance to visit Thailand and discuss Thai foreign policy with a number of close watchers. Some observations in the Interpreter: www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

My - totally missing the news cycle - article on Albanese’s decision to skip the inauguration www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

Made a (very) quick starter pack of Australia's foreign policy, security, and IR community to keep up as more people jump over from the Bad Place. It’s a work in progress, so if I missed anyone or if you want to be included let me know! go.bsky.app/VqMquA

Still looking for Southeast Asia watchers to add to my SEA Starter Pack! bsky.app/starter-pack...