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Underarm
4 mins to read

Two-faced Australia walks a geopolitical tightrope

ANALYSIS: China is Australia’s biggest trading partner and the US its main military ally. How can that be sustained?

WATCH: NBR senior journalist Lachlan Colquhoun speaks with Hamish McNicol.

Key points
  • What’s at stake: Australia’s geopolitical alignment. Is it in the Anglosphere or part of Asia?
  • Background: For many years, Australia has managed to avoid the contradiction between having China as is main trading partner and being a member of the Western military alliance. With tensions rising, that position is becoming exposed and more difficult to manage.
  • Main players: Australia, China, US, UK, New Zealand, Wang Yi, Paul Keating, Anthony Albanese, Kevin Rudd, Donald Trump, David Cameron.

Australia has tried very hard over the past few decades to ignore the contradictions in its foreign policy and economic relations, but they collided last week and were on show for all to see.

There was a visit from UK Foreign Secretary and former prime minister David Cameron, who talked up the Aukus

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Lachlan Colquhoun Wed, 27 Mar 2024
Contact the Writer: lachlan@nbr.co.nz
News tip? Question? Typo? Let us know: editor@nbr.co.nz
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Key points
  • What’s at stake: Australia’s geopolitical alignment. Is it in the Anglosphere or part of Asia?
  • Background: For many years, Australia has managed to avoid the contradiction between having China as is main trading partner and being a member of the Western military alliance. With tensions rising, that position is becoming exposed and more difficult to manage.
  • Main players: Australia, China, US, UK, New Zealand, Wang Yi, Paul Keating, Anthony Albanese, Kevin Rudd, Donald Trump, David Cameron.
Two-faced Australia walks a geopolitical tightrope
Underarm,
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