This month marks one year since the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano and the subsequent tsunami that devastated Tonga. Australia, Tonga, and other partners have worked long and hard over the past year to restore Tonga’s agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, and the livelihoods of its people. 

Although politicians claimed political stability was the driving force behind the new Constitution in 2015, Nepal has witnessed six changes of government in the last seven years. Economic recovery, from both the devasting 2015 earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic, will be a long process.

Australian foreign policy could takes some cues from Vietnam. A flexible diplomacy with the ability shift alignments in the interests of national security is what Australia needs.