Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s National Press Club speech this week confirmed the management of our foreign, defence and trade policies rests in the hands of adults. That contention is likely to be further reinforced when Defence Minister Richard Marles releases the Strategic Defence Review next week.

The Albanese government has enjoyed the benefits of being underestimated – that’s not luck, it follows smart pre-election expectations management. In no area is this truer than in the management of our international relationships.