Mr. Julio S. Amador III, Foreign Affairs Research Specialist and Special Assistant to the Director, recently attended a workshop organized by the Australian National University’s School of International Political and Strategic Studies with the East-West Center in Washington.

The workshop is part of a study group project that examines the existing security arrangements in the Asia Pacific and the role of the United States of America. The workshop revolved around the theme “United States’ Asia-Pacific Allies and Partners: Managing Regional Cooperation & Cooperation.” It was held in Canberra, Australia on 26-27 May 2014.

The overall project focuses on the problem of how US bilateral alliance relations in the Asia-Pacific are being challenged by the region’s ongoing and historically significant structural changes. The Canberra workshop was attended by invited scholars and analysts from the US, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and selected countries in Southeast Asia. Selected embassies in Canberra were also invited to send their political officers to the workshop.