Scott Morrison's trips to Vietnam and the G-7; Alliance Management in the Gulf; Australia's stance on Kashmir; Papua New Guinea

Trump’s withdrawal from the Middle East following the Iran nuclear agreement has been part of a long-term exit strategy, but could potentially lead to risky regional entanglements for both the US and Australia. 

The recent announcement by the former commander the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Ivan Marques, could reignite  an insurgency in Colombia and impede the ability to achieve peace. 

Zionism has become perhaps the most maligned and distorted term in the vernacular of the Arab-Israeli conflict.  The origins of modern anti-Zionist discourse needs to be explored and the association to the Jewish national liberation movement with racism and Nazism needs to be questioned.

The release of a key suspect in the September 2014 disappearance of 43 students in the Mexican state of Guerrero poses a significant challenge for the administration of leftist President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

“The Solidarity Challenge” is a story of John Burgess, who was the former Australian Ambassador to Poland from 1980-81. His account comprises of the critical events that took place in Poland at the time. 

Attention should be paid to the recent elections in both Guatemala and Nauru, as they have immigration implications for both the US and Australia

The upcoming Belt and Road Summit will be held amidst the current political chaos in Hong Kong. The protests may be an impediment to the summit, but the summit may be an opportunity to expose the youth in Hong Kong to new opportunities. 

The rise of China is unsettling nations in the region, not least Australia. Canberra needs to reassess its relationship with Beijing to ensure that it does not become a passive pawn in Xi Jinping’s power game.  

There is good reason to question whether Australian Defence Force procurement decisions prepare Australia's forces psychologically, materially and organisationally for an intensive war.