Yesterday
- Analysis
- Syrian conflict
Middle East braces for fresh chaos after Assad’s fall
Euphoria has swept the streets of Damascus after Bashar al-Assad’s brutal reign suddenly ended. But what comes next?
- James Curran
This Month
- Opinion
- Political unrest
A crazy six hours in Seoul and the fragility of democracy
A presidential brain snap in South Korea has revived dark memories of the country’s past, with potentially damaging geopolitical ripples across north-east Asia.
- James Curran
November
- Opinion
- China relations
No ambassador, we are not ready to get tight with China on defence
While the relationship must progress, glossing over the facts and real risks is dangerous – Canberra and Beijing are far from ready for closer defence ties.
- Jennifer Parker
- Opinion
- Defence
This is why we don’t need to worry about the Brits and AUKUS
The alliance sets the tone for the UK to make a distinctive contribution to NATO’s ability to retain sea control of the North Atlantic.
- Alessio Patalano
- Opinion
- Trade wars
Trump’s tariff war won’t spare America’s allies
Donald Trump is promising 25 per cent tariffs on supposedly close allies like Canada and Mexico as well as China. Where does that leave Australia?
- Jennifer Hewett
Dealing under way to bring Bali Nine back to Australia
But the Australians convicted in Indonesia of smuggling heroin would have to serve their sentences at home, the government says.
- Poppy Johnston
- Opinion
- Trump diplomacy
Trump’s foreign policy hand is stronger than you might think
Fears of American isolationism ignore that the president-elect’s international relations capabilities might be better than many think once he takes office.
- James Curran
- Opinion
- The AFR View
West must not flinch in helping Ukraine now
There is something else at stake as Ukraine fights on: the self-respect of the democratic nations that have backed them this far.
- The AFR View
- Analysis
- Trump's White House
The big split on China at the heart of Trump’s new team
Donald Trump and JD Vance have assembled a team of strident China hawks, hellbent on countering the rise of Beijing, but is it all for show?
- James Curran
- Opinion
- Trump diplomacy
Trump is all power with no grand strategy
The US president-elect’s delight in being unpredictable may end up dissipating US power rather than strengthening it. Australians may come to regret that.
- Peter Varghese
- Opinion
- Foreign relations
Trump picks put Australia in the crossfire with China
The frenzy around a reinvigorated Republican administration can only make the voter ride much bumpier for everyone, Anthony Albanese included.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- The AFR View
China should practise what it preaches on free trade
The best way Beijing can persuade the US it is playing fair is to open up its domestic market so America can share in its success.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- China relations
Xi got his message across, but calls to oppose protectionism are a bit rich
Australia is right to rail against Donald Trump’s tariffs, but we should also make our voice heard on Xi Jinping’s “China First” policies.
- Richard McGregor
Rinehart’s right-hand woman still partying at Mar-a-Lago
Gina Rinehart’s flown home but Teena McQueen’s still at Mar-a-Lago, dancing to YMCA with Argentinian President Javier Milei.
- Myriam Robin and Mark Di Stefano
- Opinion
- Foreign relations
Did you miss the Indonesian president’s November surprise?
While Australians were absorbed by the US election, the new leader of their large neighbour was busy strengthening ties with Russia and China.
- James Curran
- Opinion
- Trump diplomacy
How to Trump-proof foreign policy
Don’t panic, don’t relax, look for opportunities, and stay close to our other allies. That’s a way to deal with a confronting new Washington.
- Rory Medcalf
- Opinion
- Trump's White House
Trump’s foreign policy agenda a high-stakes guessing game
Donald Trump’s presidency is about to show up the contradictions in Australia’s defence spending and its domestic economy.
- Jennifer Hewett
ANZ Bank and Chalmers nearing deal to offset China
Negotiations are in the final stages for the federal government to support the bank to remain in nine Pacific countries, under a plan to secure its presence in the region.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Review
On Remembrance Day: new ways to understand an old war
Scholarship on the Great War extends far beyond the traditional focus on heroic but doomed Anzacs.
- Peter Stanley
- Opinion
- US election
Trump 2.0 is the reckoning for Australia’s alliance with the US
For years Australia has looked the other way when talk of the end of US primacy has been raised. Now we can’t avert our eyes.
- James Curran
- Analysis
- US Votes 2024
What Trump has in store for six global hotspots
Capitals around the world are dusting off the old briefing books from Donald Trump’s first term, but this time could be a mix of the old and the totally unexpected.
- James Curran and Hans van Leeuwen
- Opinion
- US Votes 2024
Trump turns the tables on identity politics
Donald Trump attacked the Democrats for being too progressive and woke on cultural issues. Many Americans agreed with that general theme, if not always the language.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Analysis
- US Votes 2024
How Albanese can deal with Trump
The prime minister won’t need to ingratiate himself with the US president as other leaders have done – and he has some advantages.
- James Curran
- Opinion
- US Votes 2024
Kamala Harris turns the page on herself
A gracious, optimistic concession speech from the vice president was an unwitting demonstration of the practical problems with her campaign.
- Jennifer Hewett
