This week in Australian foreign affairs: a joint statement on the Hamad Airport incident with the Qatari foreign minister; a new director-general for the Office of National Intelligence; Exercise MALABAR begins; and more.

India and the United States have forged a defining partnership of the 21st century grounded in their shared democratic values, common public good, and converging security interests. The 2+2 Dialogue further strengthens the US-India Comprehensive Global Partnership.

For a long time, Australia enjoyed a unique position among Western democracies.  Until recently, Australia played a prominent role in international politics, exerting influence on global affairs while escaping involvement in major conflicts.

The US has made clear that it wants to establish firmer strategic cooperation among Quad members. Achieving this may be difficult due to the economic incentives to remain on good terms with China.

Bangladesh has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to relocate Rohingya refugees from Cox's Bazaar to Bhasan Char Island in the Bay of Bengal.  It remains to be seen whether this relocation will be forced or voluntary.

Australia's very future could be threatened by the deterioration in relations with China.  A former Australian ambassador offers some new thinking and clear advice for salvaging the situation.

The knock-out punch was never delivered in the international campaign against Islamic State. Now it is emerging from the Syrian desert to fight on.

The forces of political populism in the United States are too entrenched to be expunged by the defeat of Donald Trump on 3 November 2020. The issue is systemic, not a consequence of leadership idiosyncrasies.

This week in Australian foreign affairs: Payne’s press conference on Doha airport, new diplomatic appointments, COVID-19 Development Response Plans for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and more.

The current state of global affairs in light of the pandemic has raised questions on how international relations may change in the post-COVID 19 world. It is essential to speculate how Australia's role and relations with its friends may evolve in these times.