The Antarctic Treaty System turns 60

The Antarctic Treaty entered into force in 1961 with 12 participating countries. Sixty years later, 54 countries are signatories to the treaty and the various related instruments that comprise the Antarctic Treaty System. Will the …

Why is Russia worried about the Quad?

With the spotlight recently on Russia’s relations with the US and Europe, following the meeting between presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin and the G7 and NATO summits, less attention has been paid to the …

Should Australia be LAWSless?

Australia has traditionally been a norm-maker when it comes to arms control. A quick click through the pages on non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website reveals a …

India, China and the Quad’s defining test

The Quad is stronger than ever. The informal ‘minilateral’ grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the United States has in the past year held its first stand-alone ministerial meeting and its first leaders’ summit, and …

Fusing high-end warfighting with national resilience

Defence of the nation involves a lot more than weapons, and the deterrent effect the government seeks to achieve through the Australian Defence Force’s high-end warfighting capabilities is inextricably linked with broader national resilience. That …

Australia’s asymmetric advantages in global trade

Australia’s phenomenal resource endowment has once again seen it through a difficult period in the global economy, with supercharged commodity markets siphoning some of the stimulus spending by the world’s major economies into Australian pockets. …

How did Afghanistan get to this crisis point?

Afghanistan has been through many painful and destructive transitions in its modern history since its consolidation as a recognisable country from the mid-18th century, but the one it’s currently experiencing is enormously tragic. If not …

China military watch

As the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party approaches, the world is watching closely to see what China does as it tries to realise President Xi Jinping’s ‘China dream’ and achieve …