ASPI suggests

Welcome back to ASPI suggests, your recommended weekly dose of defence and security reading, listening and viewing, where we won’t even attempt to unpack Woody Island and Sunnylands until the analytical smorgasbord dwarfs the news …

The Anglosphere illusion

One of the most bizarre arguments made by the people who support Britain’s exit from the European Union is the notion that a self-exiled UK will find a new global relevance, and indeed leadership role, …

Funding defence and squaring the circle

On Tuesday, the Defence Minister re-committed to releasing a White Paper in the first quarter of this year. That means it’ll be fewer than 51 sleeps before we see the document. More importantly, it means …

Cyber wrap

The US released its Cybersecurity National Action Plan on 9 February, which will see the US government invest US$19 billion in cybersecurity in the 2017 budget. The overall intent of the plan, noted by President …

After the F-35

Despite continuing challenges with the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) development, the F-35 program forms the core of Australia’s future airpower. Australia remains committed to the JSF program, with the F-35A expected to reach initial operational …

Junior ministers: breathing space

Dan Tehan’s arrival as the Minister for Defence Materiel—as well as Veterans Affairs and Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC—is the latest in a long parade of junior Defence Ministers over …

US nuclear modernisation and assurance of allies

US allies would be well advised to keep a weather eye on the nuclear modernisation debate now unfolding in Washington. That’s because they have important interests at stake—including the future of extended nuclear deterrence and …

Rules and surprises, wars and trade

You can see the many currents in the Australia–US relationship by using different lenses: war fighting and alliance, strategy, economics and trade. Add filters for surprises and rule writing and ambition and history and the …

ASPI suggests

Everyone’s favourite hermit kingdom has done much to excite and exercise the world of late, first with last weekend’s rocket launch, and then through the decision to boot 248 South Korean managers from the Kaesong …

Reader response: straddling the divide

As someone who has straddled the public servant/ministerial adviser divide I found that the first two parts of Graeme Dobell’s series on the Canberra Minder caused me to reflect on my own experience. During my …

North Korea: waiting out the tortoise?

North Korea’s latest satellite launch helps expose the paucity of the international community’s options for responding against a determined proliferator. The UN huddles to agree on new sanctions against Kim Jong-un’s regime. China counsels all …

Morality and public policy

Everyone on the public payroll, military and civilian alike, has a duty to carry out the lawful instructions of government. They also have a duty to provide considered, honest and impartial advice to government, and …