Daniel Flitton

I've contributed to a new book, The First Albanese Government: Governing in an Age of Disruption and Division, 2022-2025 - grateful to the editors for the chance to step back from the daily commentary cycle. newsouthbooks.com.au/books/the-fi...

✍️ Random writing tip - if you can tweet it, you can make a short column of it. And then tweet that.

🔗 www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

Indeed, that was indeed a moment of national consciousness about the relationship.

And perhaps the secrecy of the 1995 deal explains why yesterday was an announcement of “substantive” agreements rather than presenting the treaty in full? That, or they missed a deadline again? 🤷‍♂️

Penny Wong said on ABC radio this morning the 1995 AMS “has been regarded as the high watermark of our relations with Indonesia”. Don’t want to get too caught up in words, but remember this was a secret negotiation with an authoritarian government. It was fragile for this reason.

London calling, political patronage, and the diplomatic curtain The Foreign minister’s pledge to prioritise diplomats over politicians hasn’t extended to breaking one posting tradition.

Labor pledged to prioritise diplomats over politicians for ambassadorial jobs. Then appointed ex pollies to London - twice.

The UK High Comm role has never been held by a woman. Nor has Australia’s US ambassador.

Some traditions remain unbroken. From me.
www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

COP30: A climate for change? A collection of Interpreter articles related to global environmental negotiations.

Big climate debates in Brazil. Will there be a result that matters? Or is this more talk?

What of Australia's hopes to host the great global jamboree next year, COP31?

I've drawn together a thread of recent Interpreter articles. www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

Photographer says heartbreaking image brought community together Craig Parry is used to capturing beautiful photographs of the ocean at its best, but this heartbreaking image won him a prestigious Ocean Photographer of the Year award.

Incredible work - revealing and some sad, too. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

Can a sense of humor get Albania into the E.U.? Once known as a Stalinist backwater, Albania is now a front-runner for E.U. accession and has a comedian running for mayor of its capital.

I aspire to write a headline as worthy. (Also, a really interesting read.) www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

Confronting the danger of a “zombie” United Nations Middle powers can act now to reform the UN – before financial crisis turns it into an empty shell.

Strong warning from @senatorwong.bsky.social about the risk of a hollowed out United Nations, writing for @lowyinstitute.bsky.social Interpreter. www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

Picasso's Weeping Woman: The agony and the ecstasy of the art theft Thirty years ago the National Gallery of Victoria was robbed of its prized Picasso. The thief has never been caught. Chief conservator Thomas Dixon played a key role in the drama. Here he recounts exc...

This was a terrific reflection on the episode published a few years back. www.theage.com.au/entertainmen...

Other Brazen Art Heists Like the Louvre Jewelry Theft

Add to this list the theft of Weeping Woman from NGV in Melbourne by "The Australian Cultural Terrorists" - culprits never found, although the painting was. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/u...

A friendly reminder that you can get a snazzy new Interpreter Weekly Digest from @LowyInstitute straight to your inbox. Just sign up at the bottom of the homepage.
📨 www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

AUKUS doesn’t need protection from politics Democracy works best when defence debates are transparent.

The problem in defence isn't as much politics as a lack of transparency. And that won't be solved by another parliamentary committee holding secret hearings. A piece from me responding to plans to re-jig oversight for defence matters. www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

A bingo card guide for Anthony Albanese’s speech to the United Nations Australia’s recent national statements reveal the familiar script the PM will likely follow in his first address to the global body.

Anthony Albanese gives his first UN speech on Friday week. Will he break from Australia's predictable diplomatic script?

My analysis of recent national statements suggests probably not.👉 www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

Indonesia removes finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, official says The Indonesian government removed finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in a cabinet reshuffle on Monday, state secretariat minister Prasetyo Hadi said.

Indonesia removes finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, official says reut.rs/4phHfYQ

We've given the Interpreter Weekly Email Digest a make-over, and it looks schmick. If you're not signed up, you should - 🔗https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter

Daniel Andrews, private statesman, grubby diplomacy A former state leader’s appearance at China’s military parade tells a story of Australia’s ongoing China dilemma.

Daniel Andrews shaking hands with Xi Jinping at China's military parade might be more about thumbing his nose at political enemies back home than grand strategy. My latest for @LowyInstitute on former politicians playing "private statesman". www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

"... can refine AUKUS and make it fit for today’s purpose." Refine, after only five years? Could be read as an admission the initial conception was hasty? Or maybe it's ever so, there is ambition then details follow?

Also some notable language. "... can resoundingly deliver on the alliance’s potential." That A-word, given there has been a talking point that AUKUS is not technically an alliance.

Don’t Abandon AUKUS The case for recommitting to—and revitalizing—the alliance.

A Minister of AUKUS? Or ambassador at least? Interesting debating point in this Marise Payne, Jim Mattis et al essay. First reaction is how would it resolve challenges in authority lines with rest of Defence - already complaints AUKUS is an extra service. www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

It’s not all about Trump and tariffs. India and China had taken steps toward rapprochement from at least October last year when Modi met Xi. And despite the evident fractures in US-India ties now, there is still cooperation.

The battle to Save China's snub nosed monkey The BBC has been granted access to an area where scientists are battling to save the rare snub-nosed monkey.

We were taken into the mountains of Shennongjia in central #China to meet the golden snubbed nosed monkeys which have - for the moment - been saved from extinction... CLICK ON LINK TOO SEE.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

The gap between Quad rhetoric and reality Flowery language from reporters masks a forum that struggles to deliver on grand promises about containing China.

As journalists, we love adjectives that grab attention. But do words like "strategic" and "vital" help or hinder understanding? I've had a look at how recent media language around the Quad can overstate what this forum has actually achieved. www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

If a Putin-Zelensky summit takes place, where could it be? Geneva, Istanbul and Budapest have been put forward as potential locations - but bilateral talks still remain a long way off.

"As the diplomatic whirlwind dies down, the likelihood of a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy seems to be further diminishing." www.bbc.com/news/article...

From "my friend Donald Trump" to questioning "the end of a beautiful friendship" – how did India-US relations deteriorate so dramatically in just 9 months? My latest tracks a month-by-month unravelling through the headlines that tell the story. www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

How India-US relations unravelled: The Trump-Modi timeline From bromance to breakdown.

“‘In Trump-Modi standoff, ‘egos’ and missteps fuel resentment’ – Washington Post,” writes Daniel Flitton in The Interpreter.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/how-india-us-relations-unravelled-trump-modi-timeline

Penny Wong appoints former Labor MP Michelle O’Byrne as Australia's Ambassador for Gender Equality - follows Stephen Jones to OECD in July, and Keith Pitt (Nationals) to Vatican as politicians-turned-diplomats this year. www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/pen...

A South China Sea collision brings US-Philippines alliance to the fore Beijing again turns aggressive in contested waters but in doing so betrays feeling spooked.

Latest tension in South China sea, with US warships now in the area, and a sharp analysis from @richheydarian.bsky.social www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

Old trees and ageing farmers worsen outlook for top palm oil exporters Malaysian farmer Suratmen Mosman faces a dilemma that threatens to sap supply from the world's top palm oil exporters and drive up prices of the vegetable oil essential to billions of consumers worldwide in the next five years.

Good look at what is often a vexed debate about this industry. www.reuters.com/business/env...