President Donald Trump's trade policies, particularly tariffs on steel and aluminium, have sparked retaliatory actions from long-standing allies and raised serious questions about the future of America's working relationships with the rest of the world.

In December, the Lowy Institute hosted a panel discussion about the impact of Donald Trump presidency in Asia — from US security and trade ties with Indo-Pacific, and the outlook for US-China tensions and key regional flashpoints, including Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Lydia Khalil convened this conversation with colleagues Daniel Flitton, Managing Editor of the Interpreter and Susannah Patton, Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, and Professor Bec Strating, Director of La Trobe Asia.

President Donald Trump's trade policies, particularly tariffs on steel and aluminium, have sparked retaliatory actions from long-standing allies and raised serious questions about the future of America's working relationships with the rest of the world.
In December, the Lowy Institute hosted a panel discussion about the impact of Donald Trump presidency in Asia &mdash; from US security and trade ties with Indo-Pacific, and the outlook for US-China tensions and key regional flashpoints, including Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Lydia Khalil convened this conversation with colleagues Daniel Flitton, Managing Editor of the Interpreter and Susannah Patton, Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, and Professor Bec Strating, Director of La Trobe Asia.

Listen to all of our events in one place. Featuring distinguished speakers from around the globe on foreign policy, defence, politics, economics, aid and development.

Listen to all of our events in one place. Featuring distinguished speakers from around the globe on foreign policy, defence, politics, economics, aid and development.

Lowy Institute Events

The Lowy Institute is a leading international think tank that looks at the world from Australia’s perspective.

This channel aggregates audio from across all of our event and podcast channels.

The Lowy Institute is a leading international think tank that looks at the world from Australia’s perspective.
This channel aggregates audio from across all of our event and podcast channels.

Lowy Institute

Lowy Institute Re-cast — EVENT: Asia in 2025 and the return of Donald Trump

The Lowy Institute launched the 2025 edition of the Asia Power Index on 9 December in Melbourne.

Lydia Khalil convened this conversation with Susannah Patton, project lead for the Asia Power Index, Richard McGregor, senior fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute, and Professor Bec Strating, director of the La Trobe Centre for Global Security.

The panellists discussed the 2025 Asia Power Index findings, focusing on the shrinking power gap between the US and China, with the US experiencing decline due to Trump's tariff policies and reduced diplomatic engagement, while China positions itself as a stable regional partner. They also examined the challenges facing middle powers like Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asian nations, as well as Australia falling to sixth place amid questions about its ability to resource its growing security commitments in the region.

The Asia Power Index is the Lowy Institute's annual flagship publication tracking the changing distribution of power in Asia.

The Lowy Institute launched the 2025 edition of the Asia Power Index on 9 December in Melbourne.
Lydia Khalil convened this conversation with Susannah Patton, project lead for the Asia Power Index, Richard McGregor, senior fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute, and Professor Bec Strating, director of the La Trobe Centre for Global Security.
The panellists discussed the 2025 Asia Power Index findings, focusing on the shrinking power gap between the US and China, with the US experiencing decline due to Trump's tariff policies and reduced diplomatic engagement, while China positions itself as a stable regional partner. They also examined the challenges facing middle powers like Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asian nations, as well as Australia falling to sixth place amid questions about its ability to resource its growing security commitments in the region.
The Asia Power Index is the Lowy Institute's annual flagship publication tracking the changing distribution of power in Asia.

EVENT: Launch of the Asia Power Index 2025

Dr Michael Fullilove AM, Executive Director of the Lowy Institute, gave a speech to the Institute titled "Present at the Destruction" on Tuesday 29 November 2025. In these remarks, he reflects on the ABC Boyer Lectures he delivered a decade ago. ​

Dr Fullilove believes we are present at the destruction of an international order that served our interests well. The liberal order has become something illiberal and disorderly. On the other hand, the return of political stability to Australia's government should set us up to make bold decisions. He assesses Australia's international policies, in particular the stabilisation of relations with China, the energetic diplomacy in Southeast Asia and the Pacific and the agreements Canberra has signed with Pacific Island countries and Indonesia. In time, he hopes these agreements will come to form a latticework of mutual strategic trust.

This is the moment, Dr Fullilove suggests, for Australia to increase its investment in both diplomacy and deterrence. Our country should take on an even more demanding regional role, including by helping to coordinate the Indo-Pacific allies in their dealings with the Trump administration.

After his speech, Dr Fullilove joined the Institute’s Deputy Research Director Susannah Patton for a conversation.

Dr Michael Fullilove AM, Executive Director of the Lowy Institute, gave a speech to the Institute titled "Present at the Destruction" on Tuesday 29 November 2025. In these remarks, he reflects on the ABC Boyer Lectures he delivered a decade ago. ​
Dr Fullilove believes we are present at the destruction of an international order that served our interests well. The liberal order has become something illiberal and disorderly. On the other hand, the return of political stability to Australia's government should set us up to make bold decisions. He assesses Australia's international policies, in particular the stabilisation of relations with China, the energetic diplomacy in Southeast Asia and the Pacific and the agreements Canberra has signed with Pacific Island countries and Indonesia. In time, he hopes these agreements will come to form a latticework of mutual strategic trust.
This is the moment, Dr Fullilove suggests, for Australia to increase its investment in both diplomacy and deterrence. Our country should take on an even more demanding regional role, including by helping to coordinate the Indo-Pacific allies in their dealings with the Trump administration.
After his speech, Dr Fullilove joined the Institute&rsquo;s Deputy Research Director Susannah Patton for a conversation.

EVENT: Present at the Destruction

Speech by Director-General Mike Burgess

Q&A with Dr Michael Fullilove

The Director-General of Security Mike Burgess delivered the 2025 Lowy Lecture before a packed Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday 4 November 2025.

In his address and subsequent conversation with the Lowy Institute's Executive Director Dr Michael Fullilove, Mr Burgess spoke about the interplay between threats to Australian security, including those which emanate from abroad, and our country’s social cohesion.

The Director-General of Security&nbsp;Mike Burgess delivered the 2025 Lowy Lecture before a packed Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday 4 November 2025.
In his address and subsequent conversation with the Lowy Institute's Executive Director&nbsp;Dr Michael Fullilove, Mr Burgess spoke about the interplay between threats to Australian security, including those which emanate from abroad, and our country&rsquo;s social cohesion.

Lowy Institute Re-cast — EVENT: Asia in 2025 and the return of Donald Trump

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