President Joe Biden’s offer to have Australia counted as a ‘domestic’ economy under the US Defense Production Act may give a badly needed boost to the flagging economic relationship between the two countries. The US …
As Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles noted in his statement introducing the 2023 defence strategic review, a stable relationship between Australia and China is in the interests of both countries and the …
As the 2024 US presidential primary campaign season begins, the most likely final contest is a rematch between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Judging by the electoral map in 2020, Biden would be well …
An engaged and informed community is important for governance, development and an effective democracy at any time, but that’s especially so in Bougainville right now. The island is in a sensitive political moment as it …
When examining the public version of the defence strategic review, it’s important to remember that it’s an unclassified version of a classified document and we’re not seeing the full picture. The review comments on the …
As pressure grows to phase out fossil fuels and meet emissions-reduction targets, Australia is well placed to harness clean, affordable and virtually unlimited space-based solar power. A report commissioned by the UK government on space-based …
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the controversial but democratically elected Turkish president, will continue at the helm of his country for the next five years. Last weekend’s electoral victory puts him in a stronger position than ever …
‘I’m trying to figure this out,’ said the journalist who had just phoned. ‘Why is South Korea holding a summit with Pacific leaders?’ That question was undoubtedly asked by more than one journalist, and others, …
As Ukraine’s ‘shaping’ activities continue across Russian-occupied Ukraine—and parts of Russian territory—ahead of its much-anticipated counteroffensive, the global political environment is gradually, but significantly, shifting in Ukraine’s favour. In the week leading up to this …
On page 27 of National defence, the report of the defence strategic review, is a map of Australia’s strategic geography. It superbly situates us and perfectly explains why a power in the distant reaches of …
Afghanistan and Pakistan are sinking deeper into disarray, and the United States bears a significant share of the blame. As long as this long-troubled region remains mired in turmoil, Islamist terrorism will continue to thrive, …
Overall defence funding, 2023–24 Consolidated defence funding (including the Australian Signals Directorate) Funding $52.6 billion Growth on prior year 7% Real growth on previous year 1% Department of Defence government funding Funding $50.1 billion Funding …
Russia’s continued isolation from the G7, and the expansion of sanctions against Moscow, have made the severe consequences of President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine clearer than ever. During the G7 summit last week, Russia’s …
The 20th Chinese Communist Party National Congress, held in October 2022, caught the world’s attention—not least because there wasn’t a single woman among the politburo’s 24 members, breaking a tradition of two decades. While the …
Sea state On the eve of last week’s G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan’s Ministry of Defense reported that several Chinese warships were circling the Japanese islands. The flotilla included the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s guided-missile destroyers …
The Pentagon’s 2022 national defence strategy defines allies as the US’s ‘greatest strategic advantage’ and ‘a center of gravity’ for the strategy. As a result, it is critical for the US to understand its allies …
The defence strategic review highlighted the need for the Royal Australian Navy to have two levels of surface combatants to provide ‘increased strike, air defence, presence operations and anti-submarine warfare’. While the DSR doesn’t directly …
US President Joe Biden’s decision on 19 May to help facilitate Ukraine’s efforts to procure advanced fourth-generation fighter aircraft was a significant shift in America’s posture. Announced at the G7 summit in Tokyo, the US …
The Middle East’s strategic equation is rapidly changing against the global backdrop of polarisation between democracies and autocracies. Its authoritarian rulers have lately taken a number of steps to safeguard their positions in this context …
An Australian official once told me that Australians struggle to think beyond the American-led Anglosphere and alliance. There might have been some hyperbole in that remark. But certainly the struggle we have in properly understanding …