US allies and the future of the Indo-Pacific

There is a growing consensus among American allies and partners that an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific is in the interests of all nations and must be preserved. Beyond this broad vision for regional order, however, are a range of differences in national priorities, security and economic interests, and views about rules, norms and values. As the Indo-Pacific strategic landscape becomes more challenging, creating a demand for greater cooperation between the United States and its regional partners, these differences need to be better understood. To what extent are the aims of Indo-Pacific countries aligned on issues of security, geoeconomics and regional diplomacy? What are their common strategic goals? And how can Australia work with likeminded partners to strengthen a collective approach to the region’s future? The United States Studies Centre held a public panel discussion with five US, Australian and regional experts to learn more about these important strategic trends and the future of the Indo-Pacific. Panellists: Evan Feigenbaum, Vice President for Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Lavina Lee, Senior Lecturer, Department of Modern History, Politics and International Relations, Macquarie University; Rajeswari Rajagopalan, Distinguished Fellow & Head of the Nuclear Space Policy Initiative, Observer Research Foundation; Sugio Takahashi, Head, Policy Simulation Office, National Institute for Defense Studies; modetrated by Ashley Townshend, Director, Foreign Policy and Defence, United States Studies Centre.