In a highly polarised world, authoritarianism thrives in the Middle East. According to a credible survey, a majority of citizens across the Arab world are losing faith in democracy as a system of governance to deliver …
Debate: "General"
In January, the UK’s defence chief, Tony Radakin, warned that Russian submarine and underwater activities were directly threatening subsea cable systems. There’s speculation that Russia could cut cables if it further escalates the war in Ukraine. …
Beijing’s creation of a new state-owned company to centralise China’s purchases of iron ore and other metal resources is unlikely to have much impact while markets are tight and prices are high, but it could …
Is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine merely the first in a series of conflicts that will make Europe seem more like the Middle East in the coming years? A Chinese academic who requested anonymity put that …
In a span of nearly 90 years—from 1914 to 2003—Australia chose to go to war nine times. In the 100 years from 1914, Australian military personnel were on active service for nearly half the time—47 …
After the cancellation of the Attack-class submarine program in favour of nuclear-powered boats (SSNs), Australia’s new government must urgently consider the $100-billion-plus question of what a sovereign capability should look like. Assuming that ‘sovereign’ means …
The execution of four political activists by Myanmar’s military junta reveals the regime’s desperation. Myanmar has endured decades of military rule and brutal oppression, but these were the first death sentences carried out in 34 …
Despite information security figuring in the defence and national security consciousness since well before the end of the Cold War, we remain in the early days of cyber. For some years after September 2001, when …
In early August 1943, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was a junior lieutenant in the US Navy in command of the motor torpedo boat PT-109. Part of a force of large launches sent to intercept Japanese destroyers, …
China has reacted strongly to Australia’s intention to acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS agreement with the US and UK. Since the announcement in September, Beijing has taken a stance of lofty …
In recent days, as Covid-19 cases have continued to mount in Australia, it occurred to me how effectively my memory has wrapped itself around the early phases of the pandemic, leaving something with rounded edges …
Northern Australia is critical to Australia’s security and its position in the region. The complexities of our strategic environment require us to think more broadly and creatively about the role the north plays as the …