Australia is seeking to shore up its national security through soft power diplomacy as the United States threatens a Pacific retreat, leaving a vacuum China could exploit.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has tasked her department to review all projects in the Pacific and Southeast Asia funded by US foreign aid that has been frozen by President Donald Trump and remains at threat of being cut entirely.
It would give Australia eyes on what gaps could emerge from any US funding drain and help plan for challenges that would arise from projects collapsing.
On top of the humanitarian benefits, the foreign minister has pointed to development aid and assistance being good for Australia's national security by ensuring the region was stable and bolstering diplomatic ties.
It helped tackled regional challenges including poverty, healthcare, climate change and food security, Senator Wong said in a 2025 foreign policy snapshot released on Thursday.
Australian development assistance, diplomatic efforts and multilateral engagement contributed to peace building and conflict prevention, the document states.
Navigating a protectionist Trump administration, Senator Wong echoed her public comments about the president's America first agenda shaking up the superpower's role in the world but expressed confidence at navigating challenges.
The foreign minister has been critical of the former Liberal government for abandoning the Pacific, saying it created a vacuum.
A Chinese-Solomon Islands security pact struck when former prime minister Scott Morrison was in power was seized on by Labor as a consequence of the Liberals' disregard for the region as it sparked concern about Beijing muscling in.
The foreign minister also reaffirmed that commentary around stabilising the relationship with China didn't mean there wouldn't be any points of conflict or contention with Beijing amid the fallout of a Chinese live firing drill near Australia.
The release of the snapshot coincides with the release of Australia's roadmap for economic engagement with India as the government works to diversify relationships and harness economic opportunities across Asia.
It identifies clean energy, education and skills, agriculture and tourism as "super highways of growth" where Australia has a competitive edge to take advantage of India's growth, with its economy on track to become the world's third largest by 2030.
The world had become more unpredictable as the security situation deteriorated and the international rules that Australia had relied on to thrive over past generations were less assured, Senator Wong said.
Conflict in the Middle East, Myanmar and Ukraine posed security risks to Australia and the region, according to the snapshot.
"We see the stubborn scourges of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and violent extremism," Senator Wong said in its foreword.
"Malign actors continue to engage in sabotage and terrorism. Bullies are threatening to use nuclear weapons. Authoritarianism is spreading.
"These factors compound threats to our own region from a changing climate, military build-up without transparency, disruption of trade, the crisis in Myanmar and the risks inherent in great power competition."
