Middle powers in a multipolar world: Australia and South Korea

The partnership between Australia and South Korea stands at a critical juncture.

Political upheaval in South Korea, including President Yoon’s recent impeachment, alongside escalating regional tensions, are reshaping how these two middle powers cooperate in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific.

Why executives need geopolitical literacy

Business leaders navigating the Indo-Pacific face strategic challenges that directly impact operations:

• Trade vulnerabilities: Maritime trade routes carrying 75% of Australia’s goods and services are increasingly contested
• Supply chain disruption: Geopolitical competition affects access to critical minerals, technology transfers and manufacturing capabilities
• Strategic repositioning: The multipolar regional order demands new economic partnerships and security arrangements

These aren’t abstract foreign policy concerns—they’re boardroom issues affecting market access, regulatory compliance and investment strategies.

Strategic insights for business leaders

Recent research from the United States Studies Centre highlights four approaches that translate directly to business strategy:

1. Maintain engagement across political spectrum in key markets
2. Actively support open trading frameworks rather than accepting protectionism
3. Identify specific collaboration opportunities that leverage comparative strengths
4. Invest in relationship networks to weather short-term disruptions

Develop your geopolitical mindset

Join Professor Mike Green (CEO, US Studies Centre) and Hayley Channer (Economic Security Director, USSC) at our upcoming Geopolitics and Business Sprint to explore practical applications of these insights.

You’ll hear from experts including Professor Peter Dean, learning frameworks for assessing geopolitical risk, identifying hidden opportunities, and building organisational resilience.

For forward-thinking executives, geopolitical literacy isn’t merely advantageous, it’s essential for effective leadership in contested markets where economic and security concerns increasingly overlap.