Page 10 - IB Jan 2024

Diplomacy Diplomacy

Australian aid arrives in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Photo: Australian High Commission, Solomon Islands.

FORGING AUSTRALIAN PRIORITIES

FOR THE REGION

By Nic Maclellan the importance of his new role, at a time of geopolitical
contest across the region.
US President Joe Biden designated former Ambassador, “This is our first special envoy in the region,” he said.
Frankie Reed, as the first-ever US Envoy to the Pacific Islands “It is equivalent to the most senior level of diplomacy
Forum in 2022. Beijing appointed Qian Bo in February 2023 we have anywhere, in Beijing, Tokyo, Jakarta. It’s a very
as Special Envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs. And now, strong reflection of Australia’s priority for the region and for
Canberra has also deployed a special envoy to the region, regionalism.
even though Australia has diplomatic representation in every “In my previous role, I had a lot of relationships across the
Pacific country and territory. region, at leaders, ministerial and officials’ level,” he said.
Ewen McDonald is Australia’s inaugural Special Envoy for the “By being in Fiji, where the Pacific Islands Forum is located,
Pacific and Regional Affairs. He has a long record as a former I’m able to maintain those relationships and bring more
High Commissioner to New Zealand and a senior career officer energy and priority. It enables me to go into the Forum, face-
in AusAID and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to-face, on a regular basis to build on those relationships with
(DFAT). Now operating from Suva rather than Canberra, he the Secretary General and others in the Secretariat.”
also serves as Australia’s High Commissioner to the Republic Following the election of the Australian Labor Party (ALP)
of Fiji. government in May 2022, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and
In an interview with Islands Business, McDonald highlighted Minister for International Development and Pacific Affairs,

10 Islands Business, January 2024