Oceania | Council on Foreign Relations

United States

U.S. Gun Policy: Global Comparisons

The United States is witnessing another year of record gun violence, raising domestic and international scrutiny of its comparatively loose gun laws and placing pressure on lawmakers to enact meaningful reforms.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters June 10, 2022
Indo-Pacific

The Quad Is Getting More Ambitious in the Indo-Pacific

The leaders of the United States, Australia, India, and Japan held their fourth Quad meeting in May. After a year dedicated to fighting the pandemic, here’s what they pledged to take on next.

In Brief by Sheila A. Smith May 27, 2022 Asia Program
Cybersecurity

Cyber Week in Review: May 27, 2022

Clearview AI fined by UK; Quad announces cybersecurity initiatives; Russian social media manipulation tool exposed; Twitter fined $150 million by FTC; China pursues deal with Pacific island nations.

Blog Post by Adam Segal May 27, 2022 Net Politics

Australia

A Political Earthquake From Australia’s Elections

How will Australia's election result affect the region, including U.S.-China competition?

Blog Post by James Curran May 23, 2022 Asia Unbound
China

What the China-Solomon Islands Pact Means for the U.S. and South Pacific

The recent China-Solomon Islands security agreement has sparked concerns among the United States and its allies about a Chinese naval presence in strategically important waters. In response, Washington should ramp up diplomacy in the South Pacific.

In Brief by Zongyuan Zoe Liu May 4, 2022 Asia Program
Cybersecurity

Cyber Week in Review: April 1, 2022

New U.S.-EU data privacy agreement reached; Nokia played major role in Russian surveillance; China sees genetics as a national resource; Cyberattack on Ukrtelecom; Australia passes new cybersecurity law.

Blog Post by Adam Segal April 1, 2022 Net Politics

Diplomacy and International Institutions

The AUKUS Pact, With Michael Fullilove

Michael Fullilove, executive director of the Lowy Institute in Sydney, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the trilateral security agreement that Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States signed in September 2021, and the broader state of affairs in the Indo-Pacific.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Michael Fullilove November 16, 2021 The President’s Inbox
Australia

More Than Submarines: Implications of AUKUS in the Air Domain

The benefits of AUKUS for Indo-Pacific competition transcend nuclear submarines.

Blog Post by Douglas D. Jackson October 5, 2021 Asia Unbound
Asia

What’s Next for the Quad?

The most recent Quad summit proved that the grouping is here to stay, but it faces a number of immediate challenges in accomplishing its ambitious agenda.

In Brief by Sheila A. Smith September 30, 2021 Asia Program
France

Europe’s Response to the U.S.-UK-Australia Submarine Deal: What to Know

AUKUS, a deal for the United States and United Kingdom to provide Australia with submarines, has infuriated France at a time when transatlantic coordination to deal with China’s rise is crucial.

In Brief by Charles A. Kupchan September 22, 2021 Europe Program
Southeast Asia

Could the AUKUS Deal Strengthen Deterrence Against China—And Yet Come at a Real Cost to Australia?

AUKUS represents the death knell for strategic ambiguity in Australian foreign policy.

Blog Post by James Curran September 20, 2021 Asia Unbound
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

Trade Versus Subs: The Risky U.S. Tradeoff in the Asia-Pacific

Which will matter more, a dozen more nuclear subs on the U.S. side of the ledger or a trade pact that could draw many of the world's largest economies ever-closer toward China?

Blog Post by Ian Johnson September 17, 2021 Asia Unbound
New Zealand

Russell C. Leffingwell Lecture with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern discusses the future of New Zealand's foreign policy and lessons learned from the country's response to COVID-19 and reopening. This meeting kicks off the 2021 Virtual National Conference and is open to all CFR members. The National Conference is underwritten by a generous gift given in memory of Peter E. Haas from the Mimi and Peter Haas Fund. Inaugurated in 1969, the Russell C. Leffingwell Lecture was named for Russell C. Leffingwell, a charter member of the Council who served as its president from 1944 to 1946 and as its chairman from 1946 to 1953. The lecture is given by distinguished foreign officials, who are invited to address Council members on a topic of major international significance.

Virtual Event by The Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern June 16, 2021
Security Alliances

The Quad in the Indo-Pacific: What to Know

The Quad, composed of the United States, Australia, India, and Japan, is not a formal alliance. Still, the group has intensified its security and economic ties as tensions with China rise.

In Brief by Sheila A. Smith May 27, 2021 Asia Program
Cybersecurity

Cyber Week in Review: February 26, 2021

Chinese spyware traced back to stolen National Security Agency exploit; Congress holds first public hearing on SolarWinds; Russian hackers target Ukrainian government document circulation system; Biden executive order attempts to address chip shortage and strengthen supply chains; and Facebook restores news access in Australia.

Blog Post by Adam Segal February 26, 2021 Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program