OPINION: Nine days of international summitry will be an important test of the Prime Minister’s low-key listening style.
The Albanese government has made a strong impression in foreign policy since its election in May, and can do so again in this month’s international summit season.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong at the Pacific Islands Forum in July.Foreign Minister Penny Wong has developed a reputation for competence with our partners in South-East Asia – a bonus given the view in that region that Australia’s travails with China were largely self-inflicted, and aggravated problems between China and its regional neighbours.
The first, the 18-strong East Asia Summit, to be held in Phnom Penh, effectively includes all major states between India and North America. The summit will seek to address regional security issues as broadly interpreted.The second meeting – the Group of 20 – a mix of the most powerful and wealthiest developed countries and large and influential developing countries, will take place in Bali.
We are fortunate in having a prime minister whose main objective is not to cut a dash internationally – or, more to the point, for domestic advantage. He is not by nature a loud man. On this first summit circuit, Albanese’s preparedness primarily to listen rather than to pronounce will prove an ideal quality in Asia.
The Ukraine war added complications to our already fraught set of problems. Justifiably, we should wear the right team colours. But much of these three meetings, particularly the G20, will be taken up with Ukraine.e should remember that this war still remains a European war and our preoccupation with it causes some bewilderment among our neighbours about exactly where we belong.
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