Australia needs to take Africa seriously – really, this time
Substantive engagement with the world’s next powerhouse region won’t carry big cost but will earn major returns.
Africa looms larger in the world and the wider Indo-Pacific region and is the frontier of Australia’s western security perimeter. Three key countries with long coastlines – Australia in the East, India in the North, and South Africa in the West – frame the Indian Ocean. Regional peace and security in the future will depend on how these countries work together and engage there with global players such as China, Russia, the United States, France and others.
It is time, and in Australia’s interests, for a long-term, multi-faceted engagement policy towards Africa, with initiatives to add substance to the rhetoric.
Courtesy: The Interpreter, The Lowy Institute For the full article see here:
Photo: The Obalende bus terminus in Lagos, Nigeria, 24 September 2024 (Olympia De Maismont/AFP via Getty Images)
