Australia’s top diplomat says Australian diplomacy is being reshaped to meet a more dangerous and complex world, with a sharper focus on the Indo-Pacific, strong partnerships and defending a rules-based order.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary (DFAT), Jan Adams outlined the approach in the Sir John Quick Lecture in Bendigo, saying Australia’s engagement with the world starts with its values.
“Australia’s engagement with the world begins with who we are. Our values shape our interests, and those interests shape our diplomacy.”
Adams said Australian diplomacy has long been defined by three core principles.
“Being principled, knowing who we are, what we value, and what we want; being agile and clear-eyed, dealing with the world as we find it; and being proactive, spotting the opportunity for Australia’s advantage, no matter the circumstances.”
She said the strategic environment is deteriorating, marked by conflict, coercion and instability.
“As Foreign Minister Penny Wong says, our world is becoming less certain and less stable.”
Adams pointed to great power competition, cyber threats, misinformation and pressure on international rules, citing conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan and Myanmar.
In response, she said Australia’s diplomacy is now structured around four priorities: the region, relationships, a rules-based international order and resilience.
“The Indo-Pacific region is where our prosperity and security are ultimately decided.”
She said Australia has strengthened its regional position through new treaties and upgraded partnerships, including agreements with Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Nauru and Tuvalu, and ongoing negotiations with Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Adams also underlined the importance of Pacific regionalism.
“As our Foreign Minister says: ‘Regionalism is one of the most effective ways for smaller and medium countries to counter power asymmetries.’”
On major relationships, Adams said the United States remains Australia’s principal ally.
“American leadership in our region remains indispensable.”
She pointed to AUKUS, deeper economic ties and the Critical Minerals Framework signed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Donald Trump as central to Australia’s future economic security.
With China, Adams said Australia is pursuing stability and direct engagement.
“We are pursuing a stable and constructive relationship with the world’s second largest economy and our largest trading partner.”
On global rules, Adams said Australia’s interests depend on strong multilateral institutions.
“It is a fundamental tenet of our diplomacy, as an ambitious middle power, that a peaceful and prosperous global order can only be maintained through adherence to agreed rules and norms.”
She said Australia is committed to reforming the multilateral system and is seeking a seat on the UN Security Council for 2029–2030.
Adams also highlighted DFAT’s expanding role in resilience, including cyber security, economic security and countering foreign interference.
“Democratic resilience, cyber resilience, economic security and supply chain resilience… were never the traditional bread and butter of DFAT.”
She said DFAT has also changed internally, with a more diverse workforce that better reflects modern Australia.
“As the Foreign Minister often says, to represent a modern multicultural nation that we are, you must reflect that modern multicultural nation.”
Adams said protecting Australians overseas remains a core task, noting that DFAT has evacuated thousands of Australians from crisis zones and continues to run the government’s most trusted consular services.
Adams said Australia is not standing still in an unstable world.
“We are not choosing merely to adapt to a world less stable; we are seizing every opportunity to shape it for the better.”
“We will be agile, principled and proactive in meeting the moment.”
“And that’s exactly what we do,” she said.
