--- title: "AIIA National Conference 2026 — Canberra | Model Diplomat" description: "AIIA National Conference 2026 is a professional conference in Canberra, Australia, Nov 16–16, 2026. Dates, deadlines, fees, and prep links." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/conferences/professional/aiia-national-conference-2026" --- # AIIA National Conference 2026 Nov 16–16, 2026[Canberra, Australia](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1\&query=Canberra%2C%20Australia)In-person Starts in 9 days[Registration open](https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/national-conference-2026/) The AIIA National Conference 2026, hosted in Canberra, AUS, serves as a pivotal forum for discussing international affairs. This event brings together experts and policymakers to deliberate on critical global issues, offering a platform for in-depth analysis and strategic foresight. Given its location, the conference is uniquely positioned to address the evolving geopolitical landscape from an Oceanic perspective. ## Committees & topics - Topics Australian Foreign Policy in a Contested Indo-Pacific · International Affairs: Order, Institutions and Contestation · International Relations: Great-Power Competition and Middle-Power Strategy · Geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific and Beyond · Security: Deterrence, Emerging Domains and Hybrid Threats · Trade, Economic Security and the Fragmenting Global Economy · The Australia-China Relationship ## Why it matters The conference's significance stems from its role in fostering informed discourse on international relations. In an era marked by rapid geopolitical shifts and complex global challenges, such gatherings are essential for shaping policy and promoting understanding among nations. The discussions held here contribute to a nuanced comprehension of global dynamics, which is crucial for effective diplomacy and international cooperation. Furthermore, the event provides an opportunity to explore how various international actors perceive and respond to contemporary challenges. This includes examining the interplay of national interests, regional security concerns, and global governance frameworks. The insights generated can inform future policy directions and contribute to more stable and prosperous international relations. ## How to prepare To effectively engage with the themes presented at the conference, delegates should undertake a comprehensive review of contemporary international relations theory and practice. A strong grasp of concepts such as "dynamic analysis" and "engagement strategies" will be particularly beneficial. Understanding the nuances of international diplomacy and the various approaches to conflict resolution will also enhance participation. Attendees should also consider how different stakeholders, including those often overlooked or considered "[hidden stakeholders](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/hidden-stakeholders)," influence global events. Applying frameworks like "stakeholder mapping workshop" can help in identifying key actors and understanding their motivations. This preparation will enable delegates to contribute meaningfully to discussions and gain maximum value from the expert insights shared at the conference. ## Country perspectives Where the most-relevant 1 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile. [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [As the host nation, AUS is keen to facilitate discussions on regional stability and its role in the Indo-Pacific, emphasizing multilateral cooperation and adherence to international law.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [AUS plays a central role in organizing and setting the agenda for the conference, aiming to highlight its foreign policy priorities and foster dialogue on issues pertinent to its strategic interests in the region.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) ## Topics & background The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it. 1 ### Australian Foreign Policy in a Contested Indo-Pacific Australian foreign policy has historically balanced its alliance with the United States, its deep economic ties with Asia, and its identity as a middle power committed to a rules-based international order. Since the 1951 ANZUS Treaty, Washington has anchored Canberra's security thinking, but successive governments — from Whitlam's recognition of the PRC in 1972 to Keating's engagement with Asia in the 1990s — have sought to embed Australia in its region. The 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper marked a turn toward explicit concern about strategic competition, deepening with the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and the 2021 announcement of AUKUS. The Albanese government's 2023 Defence Strategic Review and 2024 National Defence Strategy reoriented the Australian Defence Force toward long-range strike, undersea capability, and northern basing, while the government also pursued stabilisation with Beijing and intensified Pacific diplomacy through agreements such as the Falepili Union with Tuvalu and a security pact with Papua New Guinea. Australia today faces the challenge of maintaining strategic credibility with the US under a second Trump administration while preserving economic interdependence with China, supporting Ukraine, and shaping outcomes in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Key players - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Subject state setting and executing foreign policy across alliance, regional, and multilateral tracks.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Treaty ally under ANZUS and AUKUS partner shaping Australia's strategic posture.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Largest trading partner and principal source of strategic concern in the Indo-Pacific.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Quad partner and reciprocal access country deepening defence and economic cooperation.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) - [Indonesia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) [Key regional neighbour and partner under the 2024 Defence Cooperation Agreement.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [AUKUS partner central to the nuclear-powered submarine pathway.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) 2 ### International Affairs: Order, Institutions and Contestation The post-1945 international system — built around the UN Charter, Bretton Woods institutions, and a network of treaties on trade, human rights, and arms control — is under sustained strain. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Israel-Hamas war since October 2023, civil war in Sudan, and instability across the Sahel have exposed the limits of UN Security Council action, with vetoes producing repeated deadlock. Simultaneously, the BRICS grouping has expanded and middle powers are hedging between Washington and Beijing, signalling a more multipolar distribution of influence. Reform debates have accelerated: the 2024 Pact for the Future committed states to revitalising multilateralism, including Security Council reform, sustainable development financing, and governance of artificial intelligence. Yet implementation is uncertain as great-power competition crowds out cooperative agendas on climate, pandemics, and debt. For Australia and other middle powers, the central question is whether the institutional fabric can be adapted and defended, or whether ad hoc coalitions and minilateral groupings will increasingly substitute for universal frameworks. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Principal architect of the postwar order, now recalibrating its commitments under renewed unilateralist pressures.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Leading challenger and reformer of global governance, promoting alternative initiatives and institutions.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Revisionist permanent member whose actions in Ukraine have tested Charter norms.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [India](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) [Rising power leading Global South claims for institutional reform and strategic autonomy.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) - [Brazil](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [G20 and BRICS convenor pushing reform of finance, climate and security architectures.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Middle power advocate for a rules-based order and selective multilateral reform.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) 3 ### International Relations: Great-Power Competition and Middle-Power Strategy Contemporary international relations are defined by the return of sustained great-power competition between the United States and China, overlaid by Russia's confrontation with the West and the rise of capable regional actors. Theories of unipolarity that dominated the 1990s have given way to debates about bipolarity, multipolarity, and 'multiplex' orders in which economic, technological, and normative power are diffused across many actors. Strategic competition is now most visible in semiconductors, critical minerals, undersea cables, AI, and the contest for influence in the Global South. For middle powers including Australia, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and emerging actors like Indonesia and Brazil, the central strategic question is how to combine alliance commitments with hedging, coalition-building, and engagement with the Global South. Minilateral arrangements — the Quad, AUKUS, trilateral US-Japan-ROK and US-Japan-Philippines mechanisms — have proliferated alongside ASEAN-led processes. The result is a denser but more fragmented diplomatic landscape in which agenda-setting and norm entrepreneurship are increasingly contested. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Leading pole organising alliances and technology coalitions against strategic competitors.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Principal challenger expanding influence through BRI, BRICS+ and security initiatives.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Disruptive actor aligning with non-Western partners across Eurasia and Africa.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [India](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) [Multi-aligned major power pursuing strategic autonomy and Quad participation.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) - [Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Major US ally driving Indo-Pacific architecture and economic security frameworks.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Middle power balancing US alliance with regional engagement in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) 4 ### Geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific and Beyond Geopolitical competition has reorganised around the Indo-Pacific, a strategic construct formalised in successive US, Japanese, Australian, Indian, and European strategies since the late 2010s. Flashpoints include the Taiwan Strait, the South and East China Seas, the Korean Peninsula, and the Sino-Indian border. China's military modernisation, base in Djibouti, security agreement with Solomon Islands (2022), and assertive maritime activity have driven a series of allied responses including AUKUS (2021), the upgraded Quad, and Japan's doubling of defence spending. Beyond the Indo-Pacific, the war in Ukraine has redrawn European security with NATO enlargement to Finland and Sweden, while conflict in Gaza and the wider Middle East has reshaped relations among Israel, Iran, the Gulf states, and external powers. Africa has become a more contested arena, with Russian paramilitary influence, Chinese infrastructure investment, and shifting French and US footprints. Energy, critical minerals, and chokepoints such as the Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz, and Malacca Strait link these theatres into a single, interactive geopolitical system. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Global balancer maintaining forward presence across the Indo-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Revisionist regional power expanding maritime, economic and military reach.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Eurasian power prosecuting war in Ukraine and projecting influence into Africa and the Middle East.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [India](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) [Indian Ocean anchor and Quad member shaping the southern arc of the Indo-Pacific.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) - [Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Frontline US ally driving regional deterrence and economic statecraft.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Southern anchor of Indo-Pacific strategy and lead partner in the Pacific Islands region.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) 5 ### Security: Deterrence, Emerging Domains and Hybrid Threats The global security environment has shifted from the counter-terrorism focus of the 2000s back to inter-state strategic competition, while simultaneously expanding into new domains. Conventional deterrence has been tested by Russia's war in Ukraine, North Korean missile and nuclear advances, Iranian regional proxy networks, and Chinese military build-up around Taiwan. Nuclear arms control has unravelled, with New START due to expire in 2026 and no successor in sight, raising the prospect of an unconstrained tripolar nuclear competition. Emerging domains — cyber, space, undersea infrastructure, and military applications of AI — have blurred lines between peace and conflict. Hybrid tactics, including disinformation, election interference, sabotage of cables and pipelines, and economic coercion, have become routine instruments of statecraft. For Australia, the 2024 National Defence Strategy adopted a 'strategy of denial' centred on long-range strike, undersea warfare, northern bases, and resilient supply chains, while AUKUS Pillar I (submarines) and Pillar II (advanced capabilities) anchor allied technological cooperation. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Lead provider of extended deterrence and steward of AUKUS and allied technology coalitions.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Principal pacing challenge driving regional and nuclear posture debates.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Active belligerent in Ukraine and source of nuclear signalling and hybrid operations.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [North Korea](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/north-korea) [Nuclear-armed proliferator increasing missile testing and cooperation with Russia.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/north-korea) - [Iran](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/iran) [Regional power leveraging proxies and advancing its nuclear programme.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/iran) - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Implementing a strategy of denial through AUKUS, long-range strike and northern basing.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) 6 ### Trade, Economic Security and the Fragmenting Global Economy The global trading system built around the WTO is fragmenting under the weight of strategic competition, industrial policy, and supply chain shocks from COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. The WTO Appellate Body has been paralysed since 2019, and major economies have embraced subsidies, export controls, and inbound investment screening. The US CHIPS and Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act, the EU's Green Deal Industrial Plan and Critical Raw Materials Act, and China's dual circulation strategy all reflect a turn toward 'economic security' that mixes trade, technology, and national security policy. Australia, a highly trade-exposed economy, has navigated Chinese coercive tariffs imposed from 2020 (largely lifted by 2024), pursued the Future Made in Australia agenda, and signed critical minerals agreements with the US, EU, Japan and Korea. Regional architecture remains dense — CPTPP, RCEP, IPEF, and ASEAN-led frameworks — but is overlaid with new export-control regimes, outbound investment restrictions, and contests over standards in green technology and digital trade. The central debate is whether the system is 'de-risking' or decoupling, and what role middle powers can play in preserving open trade. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Architect of new industrial policy and export controls reshaping global trade rules.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [World's largest manufacturing exporter and central node in critical supply chains.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Resource exporter and critical minerals supplier deepening trade ties across the Indo-Pacific.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) - [Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [CPTPP leader and key partner in economic security coordination.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Leading EU economy navigating de-risking with China and transatlantic frictions.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) - [India](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) [Major emerging market and PLI-driven manufacturing hub negotiating selective trade openings.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) 7 ### The Australia-China Relationship Australia and the People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations in 1972 under the Whitlam government, and economic ties expanded dramatically after China's WTO accession, culminating in the 2015 China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA). China became Australia's largest trading partner, dominating exports of iron ore, coal, LNG, education, and tourism. The relationship deteriorated sharply from 2017 onward over foreign interference legislation, the 2018 exclusion of Huawei from 5G, and Canberra's 2020 call for an independent COVID-19 inquiry, which prompted Beijing to impose tariffs and informal bans on Australian barley, wine, beef, coal, lobster, and timber, and to issue a list of '14 grievances'. Since the Albanese government took office in 2022, the relationship has entered a phase of 'stabilisation': ministerial dialogue has resumed, almost all trade impediments have been lifted by 2024, Prime Ministerial visits have occurred in both directions, and detained Australians including Cheng Lei have been released. However, structural tensions persist over the South China Sea (including unsafe PLA encounters with the ADF), Taiwan, AUKUS, human rights in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet, cyber intrusions, and competition in the Pacific Islands. The relationship is now characterised by Canberra as 'cooperate where we can, disagree where we must' — a managed coexistence rather than a reset. Key players - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Pursuing stabilisation with China while deepening alliance and regional hedging.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Largest trading partner and principal strategic competitor for Australia in the Indo-Pacific.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Treaty ally whose competition with China shapes Canberra's strategic choices.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Key partner in Indo-Pacific coordination and economic security responses to China.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [AUKUS partner reinforcing Australia's long-term capability balance vis-à-vis China.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [Taiwan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/taiwan) [Unofficial partner and potential flashpoint central to Australia's regional risk calculus.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/taiwan) ## Resources News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for AIIA National Conference 2026. Recent reporting to ground your prep [Trump's Economic Reset](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-economic-reset-aiming-to-tackle-high-gas-prices) [GOP Promotes Trump's Tax Savings on Deadline](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/gop-highlights-trumps-tax-savings-on-filing-deadline-day) [Howard Lutnick's Senate Testimony on 2027 Bud](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/howard-lutnicks-senate-testimony-on-2027-commerce-budget) [China's New Strategy for Taiwan and Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/china-adjusts-taiwan-and-japan-strategy-amid-middle-east-crisis) Lessons Bite-sized lessons to build the basics [Hidden Stakeholders](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/hidden-stakeholders) [Engagement Strategies](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/engagement-strategies) [Dynamic Analysis](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/dynamic-analysis) [Stakeholder Mapping Workshop](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/stakeholder-workshop) Courses Guided courses that go deeper on the topic [Policy Brief Writing](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/policy-brief) [Media & Press Relations](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/media-press) [Advanced Negotiation](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/advanced-negotiation) [Multilateral Negotiation](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/multilateral-negotiation) The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Indonesia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [India](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) [Brazil](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [North Korea](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/north-korea) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/north-korea) [Iran](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/iran) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/iran) [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Taiwan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/taiwan) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/taiwan) ## Frequently asked questions - - Free account Save conferences, research any topic with AI, build position papers, and keep your daily prep streak — free. [Create free account](https://modeldiplomat.com/sign-up?next=%2Fconferences%2Fprofessional%2Faiia-national-conference-2026) Already a member? [Log in](https://modeldiplomat.com/sign-in?next=%2Fconferences%2Fprofessional%2Faiia-national-conference-2026) Free account Save conferences, research any topic with AI, build position papers, and keep your daily prep streak — free. [Create free account](https://modeldiplomat.com/sign-up?next=%2Fconferences%2Fprofessional%2Faiia-national-conference-2026) Already a member? [Log in](https://modeldiplomat.com/sign-in?next=%2Fconferences%2Fprofessional%2Faiia-national-conference-2026)