Abstract
Each year, the Kokoda Foundation invites security experts from the United States and Australia to investigate a tough, shared security challenge. The 2008 ‘Kokoda Dialogue’ explored the issues and options for future strategy in the Western Pacific. The Dialogue considered avoiding major power confrontation in the region as the most pressing strategic goal, but also recognised the importance of dealing with a host of lesser, often non-traditional security challenges out to 2030. Existing regional security architectures were considered insufficient for these tasks, and new thinking was considered essential. Among the suggestions presented were a strategic energy conservation initiative, declaratory statements supporting the United States’ regional role, a regional declaration against coercive behaviour and practical cooperation to manage change in the region.
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