Australia’s spending on the Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) is set to soar to new heights after a successful test in which the fighter-like drone demonstrated its ability to shoot down an …
The Strategist on: "ASPI staff"
The next National Defence Strategy (NDS), expected in early 2026, should deliver something Australia has long lacked: a strategic narrative that tells the public what truly matters to our security, what threatens it, and how …
A major sore point in India’s relations with its Western partners is its continuing empathetic relations with Russia, especially since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. So there was considerable attention on Russian …
Don’t despair but don’t relax. It was a profoundly important message delivered last week by Australia’s director-general of national intelligence, Andrew Shearer. The placid period that followed the end of the Cold War, so comfortable …
At ASPI’s Sydney Dialogue on 5 December, Director-General of National Intelligence Andrew Shearer reflected on major geopolitical trends. In a discussion with ASPI executive director Justin Bassi, Shearer said that ‘the biggest, most consequential change …
Before its release on 4 December, the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy (NSS) had been expected to emphasise increased defence burden-sharing among allies and partners; a refresh of US priorities, placing ‘America First’; a more …
The Australian Defence Force needs to expand and accelerate acquisition of autonomous equipment to achieve a rapid increase in force-structure numbers and capability. This is necessary to reinforce Australia’s strategy of deterrence by denial and …
News last week that China had published a white paper on arms control seemed promising, because it raised hopes that Beijing would provide some rationale or plan for its nuclear expansion of the past few …
Executive director Justin Bassi’s foreword for ASPI’s The Sydney Dialogue 2025, being held on 4 and 5 December. Technology is one of the most powerful forces shaping our world. It can empower societies or …
The signals from Washington on critical minerals are no longer ambiguous; they are decisive, strategic and aligned with Australia’s long-term interests. The issue is whether Canberra and industry can convert this momentum into concrete projects …
ASPI’s Critical Technology Tracker now covers global research efforts into 74 technologies, giving policymakers, industry and partners the clearest, most current picture of the tech race for strategic advantage. This expanded scope adds 10 technologies …
Australia and the European Union have established an impressive web of agreements and frameworks over the past two years to strengthen critical-minerals cooperation. Yet the ultimate test will be whether these commitments can deliver the …