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Australia’s
foreign policy under successive governments has been based on
its position as a longstanding ally of the United
States, which has both global interests
and a close involvement in the Asia–Pacific region. In recent
years, foreign policy has focused heavily on relations with
the United States,
especially since the terrorist attacks on ‘September 11’ 2001.
Australia under the
Howard Government pursued an intimate political dialogue
with the United States,
supported the ‘war on terror’, contributed to the coalition
effort in Afghanistan,
participated in the invasion of and subsequent conflict in Iraq,
and concluded a bilateral Free Trade Agreement in 2004. At the
same time, the Howard Government also pursued enhanced bilateral
relationships in the Asia–Pacific. It placed particular emphasis
on the importance of advancing relations with the United
States and with China,
Japan, the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations and the states of the south-west
Pacific.
Australian Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd
argued (in an article
in early 2007) that Labor in office would base its foreign policy
on three pillars: the alliance with the United
States, membership of the United Nations,
and a policy of comprehensive engagement with the Asia–Pacific
region. Australia would:
… re-engage with the Australian tradition of
active middle power diplomacy … to produce real practical
results for Australia
to enhance our security, our prosperity and our environmental
sustainability.
The briefs that follow direct attention to
several major issues and areas likely to be of significant interest
in the early stages of the 42nd Parliament. They
cover:
- Australia’s relations
with its largest immediate neighbour Indonesia
- the challenges facing Timor-Leste
- an overview of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon
Islands
- major issues facing the United States
in its relations with East Asia (China,
Japan and Southeast
Asia)
- the efforts to contain the dangers posed by North Korea’s
nuclear programs
- the implications of recent political changes in Japan
- key issues in the politics of the Middle East (including
Iraq, Iran
and Israeli–Palestinian relations), and
- Australia’s policies
in relation to overseas aid and the implementation of the
2006 White Paper.
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