hi the late 1980s Australia crafted itseli an ultimately very lucrative East Asia strategy. Three decades later, the mainstreaming of an “Indo-Pacific” concept and structural change is again driving expansive geo-economic thinking. This paper draws together related economic, demographic and geopolitical trends and literature to offer the perspective therein that Australia should proactively incrementally also deepen ties with African Indian Ocean Rim countries, alongside those with South and South East Asia. These countries, where coastal especially, are important to African development and favourably positioned to contribute to a more sustainable development and global prosperity over next decades. Moreover, tor Australia they offer the triple dividend of Indian Ocean, Commonwealth and Africa policy geo-economic ties; most are English speaking. Constructive bilateral and sub-regional ties could moreover facilitate Australia’s role as the only OECD member country member of the Indian Ocean Rim Organisation, in the Indo-Pacific, and in multilateral forum. And hence national prosperity accordingly. © 2020. All Rights Reserved.
Author Keywords
Index Keywords
