Insight topics
John McCarthy AO
Former Australian Diplomat
19 articles found : Show all articles
Australia is again snuggling up to powerful friends
The new AUKUS pact symbolises a nuclear-powered move away from being a country with the self-respect of true independence, writes John McCarthy.
The shame of Kabul
Australia’s messy exit from Kabul is likely to be recorded in history as a moment of national ignominy. John McCarthy argues that in the manner of our leaving we lost both credibility of leadership and ‘capacity to argue from the high ground’.
Managing ANZUS: getting the balance right
While ANZUS originally developed as a necessary tool for our national defence, facilitating US engagement in our immediate region, former Australian diplomat John McCarthy argues it must also work alongside our evolving foreign policy needs. Namely, engaging with our independent neighbours and developing a role in the multilateral structures designed to guide the liberal international order.
The price of neglect in Afghanistan
As Australia retreats from Afghanistan, it is time to be generous to those who helped us, writes former diplomat John McCarthy. What we do now to aid friends in need could shape our international standing for many years to come.
Are the rich democracies singing in tune over China and the World?
The weekend’s G7 summit produced grounds for modest celebration – the United States and its allies were again singing the same tune. But as former diplomat John McCarthy writes the world’s rich democracies, including Australia, have much work to do to restore the value of the liberal political brand.