Donald Trump brings a new unpredictability to a deeply divided world. And on top of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, we also have global warming starting to wreak havoc. What role does a tiny Pacific country like us have?  How do we sustain our connection with our major trading partner at a time when our major political ally – the US – is so hostile to China?

Robert Patman is a Distinguished Professor at Otago University. His research interests include international relations, global security and US foreign policy.

 Dr Marco de Jong is a Pacific historian and lecturer at AUT and a Rhodes Scholar. His focus is on the Pacific. He has ties to Papu Pulela in Samoa where he holds the chiefly title Faumuinā.

‍Anna Powles is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, and her research focuses on the Pacific and our foreign and defence policy. Anna is the recipient of the 2024 Whaowhia Ngā Kete o Te Wānanga: Exceptional Research Citizenship.

On as part of the Wānaka Festival of Colour.