President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign-made movies alluded to culture as a soft power resource and highlighted films’ role—Hollywood being a yardstick—in the global competition for soft power. Whether you are a Star Wars fanatic, or an imitator of Kung Fu moves, soft power spreads its tentacles everywhere. 

One of the most notable aspects of the recent Chinese Navy’s circumnavigation of Australia was the diversity of interpretation by Australian observers. This piece argues that this confusion is largely the result of grey zone activities, which may be overcome by recasting them as ICAD activities. 

As Donald Trump’s new tariffs threaten to destabilise Southeast Asia’s economies, Indonesia faces a critical choice between quiet diplomacy and bold global leadership. By following China’s example and taking its case to the UN, Jakarta can defend not only its economy but the very principles of international trade justice.

India’s recent precision strikes in Pakistan mark a turning point in South Asia’s fragile security landscape. As tensions escalate, Pakistan faces a stark choice between restraint and a catastrophic gamble with nuclear escalation.

Future-proofing from the ground up is how eastern Indonesia is working towards climate resilience. Empowering women, honouring tradition, and listening to marginalised voices have been key to a fairer and more responsive appraoch.

This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese in Jakarta; Albanese to visit Vatican City and Singapore; new investment in Indonesia; Wong marks Russia’s responsibility for downing of Flight MH17, and more.

In light of the ongoing military escalation between India and Pakistan, addressing the enduring violence in Kashmir requires a dual strategy. Both countries should adopt initiatives focused on economic development and youth engagement and pair it with efforts to rebuild trust in governance and democratic institutions.

There is an arms race developing between the United States and China. But this race is not about kinds of capabilities or the amount of them. Instead, the race centres on supporting and developing indigenous commercial space industries through which each state gains strategic advantages.  

India’s emerging “MIDWIFE” strategy reflects a calculated response to China’s growing regional assertiveness, balancing autonomy with deepening ties to the United States and Indo-Pacific allies. As China tightens its geopolitical grip, New Delhi is leveraging demography, diplomacy, and defence to quietly shape a multipolar regional order.

Do preferential trade agreements truly help African economies, or do they keep them trapped in a cycle of dependency? In Africa and Preferential Trade: An Unpredictable Path for Development, Richard Mshomba challenges the widely accepted notion that trade preferences foster development, arguing instead that they reinforce economic reliance on external powers.