In May, ASPI released ‘Smooth sailing? Australia, New Zealand and the United States partnering in–and with–the Pacific islands’. The report detailed how Australia, New Zealand and the United States could improve security partnerships and coordination in the region.

This week, ASPI’s Bec Shrimpton speaks to report authors Joanne Wallis and Anna Powles. They discuss the key recommendations from the report, including setting up an ASEAN-style forum for Pacific island nations, as well as the need for Pacific priorities to direct the actions that partners undertake in the region. They also discuss how Australia, New Zealand and the United States have engaged with the Pacific in the past and explore opportunities to strengthen engagement.

Recently, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace released the 'Indian Ocean Strategic Map', which provides a coherent, data-driven understanding of the players, security challenges, and other factors that shape the region. ASPI’s Baani Grewal speaks to Darshana M. Baruah, a fellow with the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. They discuss the key takeaways from the project, the importance of viewing the region as one continuous theater, and the emergence of China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Russia as players in the region.

Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.aspi.org.au/report/smooth-sailing

https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/06/15/mapping-indian-ocean-region-pub-89971

Music: "Rodeo Drive" by Eazy, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective - imlcollective.uk