Susannah Patton
@susannahpatton.bsky.social
Director of the Southeast Asia Program and Project Lead, Asia Power Index at the Lowy Institute
Reposted by Susannah Patton
“The same personal factors that delivered this win for Australia also point to its limitations,” writes Susannah Patton in The Interpreter.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-indonesia-pact-won-t-shift-regional-balance
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-indonesia-pact-won-t-shift-regional-balance
The Australia-Indonesia pact won’t shift the regional balance
But this diplomatic win for Australia does reflect warm neighbourly ties.
www.lowyinstitute.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:26 AM
“The same personal factors that delivered this win for Australia also point to its limitations,” writes Susannah Patton in The Interpreter.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-indonesia-pact-won-t-shift-regional-balance
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-indonesia-pact-won-t-shift-regional-balance
Two FANTASTIC jobs going @lowyinstitute.bsky.social. Program Director, public opinion and foreign policy (for an expert on Australian international affairs) and our inaugural India Chair, for a senior expert on Indian foreign policy. All details: www.lowyinstitute.org/about/careers
Careers | Lowy Institute
The latest career opportunities at the Lowy Institute, Australia’s leading international policy think tank.
www.lowyinstitute.org
November 8, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Two FANTASTIC jobs going @lowyinstitute.bsky.social. Program Director, public opinion and foreign policy (for an expert on Australian international affairs) and our inaugural India Chair, for a senior expert on Indian foreign policy. All details: www.lowyinstitute.org/about/careers
Reposted by Susannah Patton
“Calling an election in Thailand is akin to throwing the cards in the air in the hope of a more favourable arrangement,” writes Susannah Patton in The Interpreter.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/who-thailand-s-new-prime-minister-anutin-charnvirakul
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/who-thailand-s-new-prime-minister-anutin-charnvirakul
Who is Thailand’s new Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul?
The installation of a “middleman” prime minister is a warning sign for Thailand’s political stability.
www.lowyinstitute.org
September 8, 2025 at 3:22 AM
“Calling an election in Thailand is akin to throwing the cards in the air in the hope of a more favourable arrangement,” writes Susannah Patton in The Interpreter.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/who-thailand-s-new-prime-minister-anutin-charnvirakul
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/who-thailand-s-new-prime-minister-anutin-charnvirakul
Reposted by Susannah Patton
“What is required is a willingness by the Prime Minister to speak more directly about Australia’s strategic circumstances,” writes Susannah Patton in The Interpreter.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/does-australia-see-china-threat
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/does-australia-see-china-threat
Does Australia see China as a threat?
Squaring the circle between public opinion and political rhetoric.
www.lowyinstitute.org
June 30, 2025 at 3:32 AM
“What is required is a willingness by the Prime Minister to speak more directly about Australia’s strategic circumstances,” writes Susannah Patton in The Interpreter.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/does-australia-see-china-threat
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/does-australia-see-china-threat
Reposted by Susannah Patton
'Paetongtarn’s inexperience has been on full display this week' writes @susannahpatton.bsky.social www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
A border skirmish and leaked phone call sees the Thailand-Cambodia dispute surge back to life
An international dispute that is all about domestic politics.
www.lowyinstitute.org
June 20, 2025 at 1:18 AM
'Paetongtarn’s inexperience has been on full display this week' writes @susannahpatton.bsky.social www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
My take on the renewed Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, drawing on lots of conversations with experts over the past two days at the Asia-Pacific Roundtable conference: www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
A border skirmish and leaked phone call sees the Thailand-Cambodia dispute surge back to life
An international dispute that is all about domestic politics.
www.lowyinstitute.org
June 19, 2025 at 11:49 PM
My take on the renewed Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, drawing on lots of conversations with experts over the past two days at the Asia-Pacific Roundtable conference: www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
Reposted by Susannah Patton
I've been thinking about starting an Indonesia-Australia relationship substack for years. Albo just popped up in Jakarta, so why not now? A quick look at the background to this trip. Please read/subscribe etc. if you like flatkopi.substack.com/p/prabowo-al...
🇮🇩🇦🇺 Prabowo, Albanese to meet in Jakarta
Like an amateur AFL team in their late-30s, Albo heads north feeling good
flatkopi.substack.com
May 14, 2025 at 7:59 AM
I've been thinking about starting an Indonesia-Australia relationship substack for years. Albo just popped up in Jakarta, so why not now? A quick look at the background to this trip. Please read/subscribe etc. if you like flatkopi.substack.com/p/prabowo-al...
Opposition leader Peter Dutton says first overseas visit would be to the United States, breaking longstanding tradition that Australian PMs make first bilateral visit to Indonesia. amp.abc.net.au/article/1050...
Dutton claims 'common ground' with Trump in major foreign policy speech - ABC News
amp.abc.net.au
March 20, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Opposition leader Peter Dutton says first overseas visit would be to the United States, breaking longstanding tradition that Australian PMs make first bilateral visit to Indonesia. amp.abc.net.au/article/1050...
Reposted by Susannah Patton
“Compared with other information flows in the region which we measure – news agencies, newspapers and TV – radio skews more favourably to the United States than any other medium,” writes Susannah Patton in The Interpreter.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/silencing-voice-america
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/silencing-voice-america
Silencing the Voice of America
Data from the Asia Power Index shows just how successful the Voice of America has been.
www.lowyinstitute.org
March 18, 2025 at 1:33 AM
“Compared with other information flows in the region which we measure – news agencies, newspapers and TV – radio skews more favourably to the United States than any other medium,” writes Susannah Patton in The Interpreter.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/silencing-voice-america
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/silencing-voice-america
New Interpreter post from me: data from the Asia Power Index shows just how successful the Voice of America has been in Asia. The results of the next Asia Power Index may look very different … www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
Silencing the Voice of America
Data from the Asia Power Index shows just how successful the Voice of America has been.
www.lowyinstitute.org
March 18, 2025 at 12:50 AM
New Interpreter post from me: data from the Asia Power Index shows just how successful the Voice of America has been in Asia. The results of the next Asia Power Index may look very different … www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
Reposted by Susannah Patton
I have conflicting thoughts on sanctioning Thai officials. While it aligns with US concerns for human rights (good), we are punishing Bangkok for not standing up to Beijing even as we alienate the Thais & fail to provide them with any alternative #Thailand www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/us-thai...
US hits Thai officials with visa sanctions over deportation of Uyghurs to China
The move appeared intended to discourage Thailand and other countries from such deportations.
www.channelnewsasia.com
March 15, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I have conflicting thoughts on sanctioning Thai officials. While it aligns with US concerns for human rights (good), we are punishing Bangkok for not standing up to Beijing even as we alienate the Thais & fail to provide them with any alternative #Thailand www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/us-thai...
Reposted by Susannah Patton
In a new episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, defence analyst Marcus Hellyer talks with the Lowy Institute’s Sam Roggeveen about the unprecedented appearance of Chinese warships off Australia’s east coast.
youtube.com/watch?v=Ujvw...
youtube.com/watch?v=Ujvw...
March 12, 2025 at 12:37 AM
In a new episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, defence analyst Marcus Hellyer talks with the Lowy Institute’s Sam Roggeveen about the unprecedented appearance of Chinese warships off Australia’s east coast.
youtube.com/watch?v=Ujvw...
youtube.com/watch?v=Ujvw...
Reposted by Susannah Patton
Commentary: Japan is increasingly concerned that the U.S. may no longer be a reliable ally, especially as its shifting policies raise fears of a weakened security partnership amid rising threats from China and Russia.
Japan reels from — and steels for — U.S. policy shifts
“What Japan has learned from the Ukraine war is that the era where we could rely entirely on the U.S. is over.”
www.japantimes.co.jp
March 11, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Commentary: Japan is increasingly concerned that the U.S. may no longer be a reliable ally, especially as its shifting policies raise fears of a weakened security partnership amid rising threats from China and Russia.
Australia needs to respond with urgency to the second Trump administration, but framing the conversation around a narrowly cast Plan B would be self-defeating. www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
Time to retire the term “Plan B”
Australia needs to respond with urgency to the second Trump administration, but framing the conversation around the idea of a Plan B is self-defeating.
www.lowyinstitute.org
March 10, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Australia needs to respond with urgency to the second Trump administration, but framing the conversation around a narrowly cast Plan B would be self-defeating. www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
Reposted by Susannah Patton
Climate pledge delays: The world can’t afford more hot air - by @lowyinstitute.bsky.social IPDC @georgiahammersley.bsky.social Global temps have exceeded 1.5°C, yet major emitters are delaying climate commitments. With the US absent, global ambition is at risk. www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
Climate pledge delays: The world can’t afford more hot air
Last-minute extension stretches deadline for national climate plans to later this year, raising hopes for stronger pledges
www.lowyinstitute.org
March 7, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Climate pledge delays: The world can’t afford more hot air - by @lowyinstitute.bsky.social IPDC @georgiahammersley.bsky.social Global temps have exceeded 1.5°C, yet major emitters are delaying climate commitments. With the US absent, global ambition is at risk. www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
In some ways aid cuts by Europeans are understandable but Australia already spends so little that any further restrictions here would have a disastrous impact. Sadly I don’t see any political support for expanding the aid budget in response to others’ cuts.
UK slashes aid budget by 40%, joining global retreat from development funding. With USAID frozen & Europe scaling back, Australia stands increasingly alone in the Indo-Pacific, by @lowyinstitute.bsky.social IPDC @gracestanhope.bsky.social R.Duke www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
UK aid cut: Implications for an increasingly lonely Australia
Starmer’s announcement is another demonstration of a narrowing perception of global security.
www.lowyinstitute.org
February 27, 2025 at 11:28 PM
In some ways aid cuts by Europeans are understandable but Australia already spends so little that any further restrictions here would have a disastrous impact. Sadly I don’t see any political support for expanding the aid budget in response to others’ cuts.
Pretty devastating blow for reputation of Thailand’s current government here. And a data point, ir one was needed, about China’s influence at the expense of international law www.voanews.com/amp/outcry-b...
Outcry builds as Thailand deports Uyghurs to China after 10 years in detention
www.voanews.com
February 27, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Pretty devastating blow for reputation of Thailand’s current government here. And a data point, ir one was needed, about China’s influence at the expense of international law www.voanews.com/amp/outcry-b...
Reposted by Susannah Patton
NEW RESEARCH: This @lowyinstitute.bsky.social interactive map reveals how global trade with the world's two largest economies, the United States and China, has changed since 2001.
interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/chi...
interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/chi...
January 29, 2025 at 9:21 PM
NEW RESEARCH: This @lowyinstitute.bsky.social interactive map reveals how global trade with the world's two largest economies, the United States and China, has changed since 2001.
interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/chi...
interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/chi...
Is Timor-Leste joining ASEAN this year? It really wants to. en.tatoli.tl/2025/01/27/t... 1/6 🧵
Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN expected to take place in May 2025 - TATOLI Agência Noticiosa de Timor-Leste
DILI, 27 january 2025 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste’s accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to take place in May 2025. “Timor-Leste’s full membership of ASEAN is ‘a prio...
en.tatoli.tl
January 28, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Is Timor-Leste joining ASEAN this year? It really wants to. en.tatoli.tl/2025/01/27/t... 1/6 🧵
Giving a talk today at the beautiful Vann Molyvann designed library building at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
January 14, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Giving a talk today at the beautiful Vann Molyvann designed library building at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
Looking forward to visiting Phnom Penh and Hanoi next week for the first time in a while! Please get in touch if you’d like to meet up in either city! ✈️ 🇰🇭 ✈️ 🇻🇳
January 10, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Looking forward to visiting Phnom Penh and Hanoi next week for the first time in a while! Please get in touch if you’d like to meet up in either city! ✈️ 🇰🇭 ✈️ 🇻🇳
Reposted by Susannah Patton
Huge Australia-Indonesia news as the remaining Bali nine members are returned home www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12...
December 15, 2024 at 8:08 AM
Huge Australia-Indonesia news as the remaining Bali nine members are returned home www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12...
Are there any teachers or academics on here who ever use the Asia Power Index in their teaching? If so, I would love to hear from you about how you use it … please let me know!
Map - Lowy Institute Asia Power Index
Map the distribution of power across 27 countries in the Asia-Pacific with @LowyInstitute Asia Power Index
power.lowyinstitute.org
December 8, 2024 at 10:59 PM
Are there any teachers or academics on here who ever use the Asia Power Index in their teaching? If so, I would love to hear from you about how you use it … please let me know!
Important new Lowy Institute research from my colleague Rahman Yaacob released today: www.lowyinstitute.org/publications...
Partnership of convenience: Ream Naval Base and the Cambodia–China convergence
While China is pouring resources into Ream Naval Base, the West must continue to engage Phnom Penh to counter Beijing's influence in the kingdom.
www.lowyinstitute.org
December 4, 2024 at 10:19 PM
Important new Lowy Institute research from my colleague Rahman Yaacob released today: www.lowyinstitute.org/publications...
Reposted by Susannah Patton
Oi. Get along if you can to this Melbourne event at the State Library of Victoria. It’ll be great fun to listen to @susannahpatton.bsky.social, Lydia Khalil and @becstrating.bsky.social. And I’ll be hanging around, too. portal.lowyinstitute.org/eventdetails...
November 27, 2024 at 3:50 AM
Oi. Get along if you can to this Melbourne event at the State Library of Victoria. It’ll be great fun to listen to @susannahpatton.bsky.social, Lydia Khalil and @becstrating.bsky.social. And I’ll be hanging around, too. portal.lowyinstitute.org/eventdetails...