This week in Australian foreign affairs: Morrison’s meetings with the Malaysian and Vietnamese prime ministers, Malka Leifer’s extradition, and more.

In 2021, the ANZUS alliance will have been in place for 70 years. However, in the wake of Biden’s recent inauguration as the 46th president of the United States, the alliance is experiencing challenges not seen in the past.

Joe Biden has commenced his presidency with a strident call to the nation to unify and save American democracy. It may be too late.

China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) may seem part of a "grand strategy" of expansionism threatening to destabilise the liberal international order. But upon closer inspection, it appears China's strategy towards such global leadership is restricted by factors beyond its control.

Only days after the mayhem at the US Capitol, a top-secret document suddenly appeared. It showed a White House setting out methodically, if unimaginatively, an ongoing commitment to the very world order its own leader had throughout much of his time in office sought to unpick.

After months of uncertainty and postponed conventions, the Christian Democrats have finally elected a new leader of the party. Armin Laschet, Premier of North Rhine-Westphalia since 2017, has beaten two competitors, Friedrich Merz and Norbert Röttgen.

If further genocidal acts and violence are to be prevented in Burundi, the UN should remain vigilant and act on its learnings from Rwanda. It should be concerned that transparency of internal politics and violence will be prevented without adequate reporting, and perpetrators not appropriately prosecuted.

After years of conflict in Yemen, the humanitarian fallout for civilians has led to one of the world’s most severe and debilitating crises. But there is beauty to be found in Yemen as well.

Over the past 15 years, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons has grown from a grassroots movement to a major international coalition. The success of ICAN in turning the Nuclear Ban Treaty into a reality shows the power of non-state diplomacy.

Also discussed in this episode: A declassified Indo-Pacific strategy, Five Eyes, and the merit of fresh ideas for Australian Foreign Policy.