Rather than assuming the mantle of a distinguished elder statesman, former Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has done himself considerable harm by mixing religion and populism in an unsuccessful effort to create a political dynasty. …
The recent peace talks at Astana in Kazakhstan between the Assad regime and a select group of rebels underlined the Assad regime’s approach to the conflict and its resolution. The regime continued as it had …
Australia’s dread of France in the South Pacific in the 20th century has slowly turned into a new desire—that France stay and play and help pay. As the quintessential status quo power in the South …
Michael Flynn’s recent fall from grace opened the door for yet another General to join the Trump administration. Since the President announced that H.R. McMaster will take on the role of National Security Advisor, portraiture …
As the government’s review of the Australian Intelligence Community (AIC) picks up steam, one of the key challenges is to identify and resolve growing gaps in the AIC’s technological capabilities. One such capability is the …
The 14 February piece by James Mugg and Andrew Davies was like the curate’s egg: good in parts. Much of what they wrote about the significance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and systems (UAS), especially about …
If the Trump–Turnbull call illustrated the operatic nature of the early Trump administration, then the Trump–Abe long weekend presented an alternative picture of US alliance management under the new President. Both episodes demonstrate how leader-to-leader …
As it prepares to enter the sprawling ancient quarter of Mosul, the Iraqi Army has shaken off the claims that it’s not willing to fight. The special-forces units leading the attack on the west of …
The Beat Carfentanil ban in China Carfentanil is a powerful opioid used as an elephant tranquillizer. Despite being 10,000 times stronger than morphine, it was possible last year to order kilograms of it on the …
Within a week of Donald J. Trump’s inauguration, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved its Doomsday Clock half a minute closer to midnight. The international community, it warned, had failed to come to grips with …
Until a few weeks ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to visit Fiji as an extension of his Australian visit. This would have reciprocated a previous visit to Jerusalem by Fiji’s Prime Minister …
Russia’s been ruffling feathers across Europe again this week, with Ukraine accusing the Russian government of using a new virus to target its critical infrastructure as part of Russia’s ongoing cyber sabotage campaign against the …
This year’s Presidential election in France will be unusually significant for Australia, though it’s not likely to alter the substance of our bilateral relationship. The interests that Australia and France share run too deep for …
In a recent speech, a former colleague observed that our strategic environment was more uncertain than at any time since 1945. The uncertainties included the United States’ approach to its global role, the more so …
Sea State There’s been an alarming update on 30 January’s Saudi frigate attack by Houthi rebels. Initially believed to be a suicide boat attack, the US Navy declared on 18 February that it was in …
Over the last eight years, as China’s posturing in Asia became increasingly aggressive, many criticized US President Barack Obama for failing to stand up to the Asian giant. It was on Obama’s watch, after all, …
ASEAN’s various high-level commitments to cooperation on counterterrorism and transnational organised crime have proven difficult to operationalise into police-to-police action. There’s been no shortage of rhetoric from senior ASEAN officials and politicians supporting regional cooperation …
After a campaign full of drama and tumult, the first round of Jakarta’s gubernational election on 15 February produced a result widely forecast in polls: the incumbent governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (‘Ahok’) topped the tally, …
I was invited to appear last week at a hearing of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee Review of the Department of Defence Annual Report 2015–16. The review is an …
The argument stretches over decades: can France stay in the South Pacific and, if so, on what terms? Being in the Pacific may serve the glory of France, but can France also act as …