This week in Australian foreign affairs: Marape visits Albanese in Canberra, Marles attends AUKUS meeting with counterparts in California, Colonna visits Wong, and more.

2023 was a bumper year for economic growth in the United States, not so for China, which continues to move backwards due to long run structural challenges and small appetite for reform. Even with such positive news, Trump continues to gain in the polls, threatening to undo the strong gains of the Biden administration and, no less, the Ukraine against Russia. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's first multicultural ambassador will enable Australia to project its unique multicultural soft power to the world. At a time of growing unpredictability, a more inclusive statecraft will contribute to a more stable the Indo-Pacific.