For Australia, a secret document raises crucial questions about US foreign policy

When Donald Trump shocked the Washington establishment — and much of the world — when he was elected President of the United States four years ago, the message from diplomats and foreign policy analysts both in Australia and the US was one of quiet reassurance.

No matter how flaky the president might look (and, remember, this was in the days before anyone realised that he wasn’t just likely to be flaky but sometimes dangerous), the institutions of government and diplomacy would grind on to plot a steady path through a dangerous world.

As what seemed an unending turnover of senior staff in the White House, and open warfare with agency heads continued unabated, it was hard to believe that was possible, let alone happening.

Now, the…