In a series of contributions to The Strategist over the past few months, Senator Jim Molan has been making the case for Australia to develop a national security strategy. It’s a notion that has merit. …
Last year, Australia became the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG). We’re set to stay that way for a few more years as new projects and exploration are slated for development in the …
The beat Privacy concerns over German body-camera footage Footage captured by German police body cameras is being stored in Amazon cloud servers, raising concerns about privacy and cybersecurity. The German government says it doesn’t have …
It’s like watching a drunken sailor go down in increments. A stumble, a forehead to the counter, a wild grasping, followed by a crash of bottles. That’s the trajectory of Zimbabwe’s post-Mugabe ‘new dispensation’—all in …
One of the hottest debates among airpower analysts is the role of unmanned systems in future air combat. Australia may have just staked a lead in capability development of unmanned systems with the unveiling of …
There’s been plenty of discussion lately about the challenges of onshore protection claims from people arriving in Australia by air. Last month, I wrote that air arrivals were Australia’s most pressing immigration border security issue. …
In some ways, 2018 was quieter for Australian counterterrorism than the preceding years, as the tempo of arrests slowed. Eight people in Australia were charged with terrorism-related offences, which was fewer than in any year …
Returning ‘jihadi brides’ The question of returning ‘jihadi brides’ (or mujahidis) has been a controversial topic this month. In particular, the case of Shamima Begum sparked a debate about whether women who have joined Islamic …
The recent geopolitical history of Afghanistan can be divided into five phases. But now it is at the cusp of another transition and the defining features of the new phase remain to be seen. During …
We are entering a new era in the security of Australia, not because of terrorism, the rise of China or even the cybersecurity threat, but because of climate change. As the world warms 2°C beyond …
Over recent days, commentators have been parsing the meaning of the breakdown of the US–DPRK summit last Friday. Most of the speculation turns upon the question of who wins and who loses from the busted …
Emmanuel Macron’s unexpected victory in the 2017 French presidential election, with 66% of the vote, made France seem, at least to some, a safe haven from the populism roiling European politics. His triumph came as …
Sea state The US Navy sent its guided-missile destroyer Stethem and cargo ship Cesar Chavez through the Taiwan Strait last Monday. This move follows the transit of guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell and supply vessel USNS …
The world had high hopes for the outcome of the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi on 27 and 28 February. The possibility of a breakthrough …
This is the preface from ASPI’s Counterterrorism yearbook 2019, which was released today. The publication presents comprehensive analyses of the threat of terrorism in different states and regions, and how governments have responded to that …
If elected to government, the Labor Party says it will enhance Australia’s economic sovereignty and national security by creating a strategic merchant shipping fleet. As a first step, it will appoint a taskforce to guide …
Welcome to ‘The Strategist Six’, a feature that provides a glimpse into the thinking of prominent academics, government officials, military officers, reporters and interesting individuals from around the world. 1. As an American and German …
This essay is from ASPI’s election special, Agenda for change 2019: Strategic choices for the next government. The report contains 30 short essays by leading thinkers covering key strategic, defence and security challenges, and offers short- and …
The vast construct of the Indo-Pacific and the limited grouping of the Quad (the US, Japan, India and Australia) share a few significant traits. Both are attempts to define and direct the emerging regional power …
Just over 20 years ago, a letter from Australian prime minister John Howard to the president of Indonesia, B.J. Habibie, set in motion a chain of events that would lead to East Timor’s passage to …