Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific

The CSIS Australia Chair and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative provide high-level policy focus on Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Island countries and their strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific through the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department.

Photo: U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia / Sector Guam

Photo: U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia / Sector Guam

Sealing the Interagency Cracks: The United States in Oceania

The United States has a major vulnerability it needs to address: China is exploiting an immigration loophole in the U.S. territory of Saipan, posing a security and counterintelligence threat to U.S. bases and installations in the region.

Commentary by Kathleen McInnis and Benjamin Jensen — March 13, 2025

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Gregory B. Poling

Gregory B. Poling

Director and Senior Fellow, Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
Photo: CSIS

Kathryn Paik

Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Australia Chair

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Sealing the Interagency Cracks: The United States in Oceania

The United States has a major vulnerability it needs to address: China is exploiting an immigration loophole in the U.S. territory of Saipan, posing a security and counterintelligence threat to U.S. bases and installations in the region.

Commentary by Kathleen McInnis and Benjamin Jensen — March 13, 2025

How Interagency Campaigns Can Counter Chinese Gray Zone Incursions in the Pacific

The Pacific is where China is testing the edges of U.S. resistance by refining its ability to exploit gaps in governance, security, and perception management. The Trump administration has an opportunity to integrate a sustained, proactive approach to deny China the ability to shape the competitive space unchallenged.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen, Kathleen McInnis, and Audrey Aldisert — March 13, 2025

Enhancing Defense Industrial Cooperation Between Australia and the United States

In a time of deepening geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific, the United States and Australia should strengthen their defense industrial cooperation to deter potential adversaries while integrating and expanding both nations’ defense industrial bases.

Report by Cynthia Cook, Charles Edel, Kathryn Paik, Gregory Sanders, Henry H. Carroll, Katy Buda, and John Augé — March 3, 2025

Southeast Asia Radio

Pacific Airwaves – Aid, Alliances, and Uncertainty

Andreyka welcomes new co-host John Augé to Pacific Airwaves to discuss Trump’s return to the White House, the impact of USAID cuts to the region, the Cook Islands’ cooperative agreements with China, and more.

Podcast Episode by Andreyka Natalegawa and John Augé — February 27, 2025

CSIS Southeast Asia Radio

U.S. Allies and Partners Under the Trump Administration

Please join the CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department for a discussion of the ways in which U.S. allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Americas are navigating the new administration’s policies.

Event — February 18, 2025

Australia’s Trade Challenges in 2025

Despite economic headwinds from various external factors, Australia still has some ability to influence U.S. bilateral trade policies and should focus on limiting any U.S. tariffs imposed on Australian exports.

Commentary by James Carouso — February 11, 2025

Critical Minerals and the Future of the U.S. Economy

Critical minerals play an indispensable role in the modern economy—yet the U.S. mineral supply chain is highly vulnerable. This edited volume offers comprehensive analysis and recommendations to create resilient supply chains for national, economic, and energy security.

Report by Gracelin Baskaran and Duncan Wood — February 10, 2025

Aging: A Strategic Opportunity for the Quad

The Quad must prioritize aging through gerontechnology, eldercare funding, and disaster resilience, ensuring a safer, healthier future for seniors globally.

Blog Post by Sakshi Kataria — February 6, 2025

Looking Ahead: Next Steps in the Pacific

Despite significant strategic chess moves in the Pacific in 2024, this critical region remains highly contested. It is imperative for the new U.S. administration to craft an effective and considered approach to U.S.-Pacific relations into 2025.

Commentary by Kathryn Paik — January 27, 2025