The Australian Army’s fondness for all things South-East Asian ebbed and flowed both before and after its involvement in the Vietnam War. The first two decades of the twenty-first century saw most of the Army’s operational experience gained in Afghanistan and Iraq, with little energy left to focus on fostering relations with Australia’s South-East Asian neighbours to its near north. After 11 September 2001, operational commitments removed from South-East Asia resulted in insufficient effort being expended in fostering regional ties for much of the subsequent two decades. This happened despite the obvious importance to Australia’s own security and stability and despite the experience in responding to regional crises in places like Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, East Timor, Solomon Islands, Fiji and elsewhere.