Faced with a challenge to its profile and influence, Australia needs to frame its approach to the Pacific as a generational partnership – a long-term, deep, sophisticated relationship with Pacific island countries characterised by respect and trust across decades.

At a time of intensifying geostrategic competition, there may be pressure for Australia to take a short-term and transactional approach towards the Pacific. Such crisis thinking would be counterproductive to forming long-term sustainable relations.

The region will respond negatively to attempts to use Australia’s development cooperation program to impose its vision and interests or, alternatively, frame it exclusively in terms of geopolitical competition. This will fail to achieve either national interest or development objectives.