Australia's and Pacific Island Countries' Reaction to the Russian Special Military Operation in Ukraine

Abstract

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a Special Military Operation (SMO) in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. It was a turning point for the entire world order and reverberated in many areas of the globe. The Asia-Pacific was also no exception. While the United States and its allies tried to impose a negative attitude to Russia's actions on the world, the reaction of the Asia-Pacific countries was more restrained. On this background, it seems necessary to analyze the perception of situation in the South Pacific, the traditional leader of which — Australia — largely adheres to the U.S. foreign policy vector, while among the Pacific Island Countries there's a growing demand for a more sovereign course. The analysis of the reaction of regional actors to the SMO requires a comprehensive approach, which is why the author analyzed the current situation in political, economic and social dimen-sions.