Australia Chair

The Australia Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies is dedicated to increasing understanding between the United States and Australia

The Australia Chair, endowed through the generosity of Pratt Industries, sharpens the focus on U.S.-Australia alliance relations and contributes innovative policy ideas to the rapidly expanding regional and global challenges that call for greater coordination and action by Canberra and Washington. The Chair works to broaden the reach and impact of the U.S.-Australia alliance and Australian ideas, influence, and capacity.

Dr. Charles Edel, a thought leader on U.S. national security and U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific and a well-recognized public policy voice in U.S.-Australia relations, serves as the inaugural Australia Chair. The Australia Chair is supported by an advisory council of former senior officials and business leaders led by James Carouso, former chargé d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Canberra with senior diplomatic experience across the region.

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Featured Analysis

Pacific Island Countries Are Highly Vulnerable to Oil Supply and Pricing

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is having significant impacts on the Pacific Island countries, which are highly vulnerable to both oil pricing and supply

CSIS Charts — April 2, 2026

Recent Analysis

Photo: Top: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images; Middle left: Justin Mcmanus/The AGE/Fairfax Media via Getty Images; Middle right: Atchariya63/Adobe Stock; Bottom: Fairfax Media via Getty Images.

Photo: Top: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images; Middle left: Justin Mcmanus/The AGE/Fairfax Media via Getty Images; Middle right: Atchariya63/Adobe Stock; Bottom: Fairfax Media via Getty Images.

Security and the Pacific Islands: Insights from Young Pacific Leaders

As strategic competition intensifies across the Pacific, emerging regional voices are redefining what security, partnership, and resilience should look like in the decades ahead.

Report by John Augé, Charles Edel, and Kathryn Paik — May 26, 2026

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Featured Video

Photo: iLab/CSIS

Secretary General Baron Waqa on U.S. Visit & Forum Priorities

Baron Waqa, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), joins PPP to discuss key takeaways from his meetings in Washington, D.C., the Forum’s priorities for the year ahead, and why you should visit the Pacific Islands.

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Featured Event

Recent Events

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Audio Briefs

Elevating Pacific Perspectives in U.S. Regional Security Cooperation

An audio version of "⁠Elevating Pacific Perspectives in U.S. Regional Security Cooperation⁠," a new commentary by CSIS’s  John Augé, Kathryn Paik, and Charles Edel. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by John Augé, Kathryn Paik, and Charles Edel — May 26, 2026

Audio Briefs
Southeast Asia Radio

Pacific Airwaves – Disruption, Disasters, and Dynamics

John and Monica discuss how the Iran war is affecting the region, recent natural disasters, and domestic political dynamics across the Pacific.

This episode was recorded on April 28, 2026. 

Podcast Episode by John Augé and Monica Sato — April 30, 2026

CSIS Southeast Asia Radio
Audio Briefs

A Union Restored: New Zealand and the Cook Islands Repair Ties

An audio version of “⁠A Union Restored: New Zealand and the Cook Islands Repair Ties⁠,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS’s Kathryn Paik and Charles Edel. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Kathryn Paik and Charles Edel — April 28, 2026

Audio Briefs