Asia-Pacific leaders welcome Labor election victory in uncertain times
The Albanese government’s focus on Southeast Asia has not gone unnoticed by regional leaders who lined up to welcome its weekend re-election.
Asian and Pacific island leaders have welcomed the re-election of the Albanese government in a string of congratulatory messages that have underscored Australia’s importance as a reliable friend and partner at a time of intense global uncertainty.
The prime ministers of India and Malaysia were among the first to congratulate Anthony Albanese on a “clear and confident verdict from the Australian people”.
“Australia plays a pivotal role in the Asia-Pacific. The Albanese government’s attention to Southeast Asia during its first term did not go unnoticed, and we hope that spirit of engagement will continue,” Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim said in a social media post.
“As our region faces new tests and transformations, we look forward to working together to uphold stability, enhance resilience, and shape a future of shared prosperity.”
Southeast Asia was among the hardest hit by Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” reciprocal tariffs, which have left ASEAN nations scrambling for a Washington carve-out while also working to build stronger trade and security alliances with regional partners such as Australia, India and Japan.
Quad partner India noted the size of the Labor victory, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing it as an “emphatic mandate (that) indicates the enduring faith of the Australian people in your leadership”.
“I look forward to working together to further deepen the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advance our shared vision for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” he wrote on social media.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said he too looked forward to “continuing and strengthening our partnership with Australia under Prime Minister Albanese’s leadership”, which had been “marked by a strong commitment to growth, sustainability and international co-operation”.
“We will work together to address shared challenges and pursue mutual goals in the region and beyond,” he said.
Lowy Institute Southeast Asia program director Susannah Paton said Southeast Asian countries in general saw Labor governments as more focused on the region than the Coalition, so were probably pleased with the result.
“The Albanese government made Southeast Asia a big focus and that’s been noticed and appreciated by regional leaders,” he said.
Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigero, another Quad nation partner, said Australia and Japan were “special strategic partners, sharing fundamental values and strategic interests”.
Mr Ishiba said his government intended to continue working closely with Australia to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he had been in touch to congratulate both Mr Albanese and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, whose People’s Action Party government was also returned to office on Saturday with a bigger majority.
“New Zealand has no better friend and no greater ally then Australia. Working together is even more important now as we both face the most challenging global environment in decades. We are stronger on the world stage together.”
In Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister James Marape said Mr Albanese had demonstrated “genuine interest in our progress as a nation” by not only supporting investment in critical infrastructure but also in a new NRL team, which was a “testament to his understanding of our national spirit”.
It was “especially meaningful that Prime Minister Albanese leads the same political party, Australian Labor, that under the leadership of the late prime minister Gough Whitlam worked hand-in-hand with our own Pangu Pati government, led by the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, to secure Papua New Guinea’s peaceful transition to independence in 1975”, Mr Marape said.
“That shared legacy of principled leadership and mutual respect remains a cornerstone of our bilateral relationship today.
“As we commemorate our Golden Jubilee of Independence, the return of both Labor in Australia and Pangu in PNG to government is a powerful historical echo. It is a moment to celebrate how far our nations have come – and how deeply our destinies are intertwined.”
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