President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's return to power has marked a significant shift in Brazil's international positioning, but beneath the surface of diplomatic pragmatism lies a web of contradictions that reveal the complex realities of contemporary geopolitics. Brazil's ambitious multi-currency bond strategy, designed to diversify away from dollar dependence,…
By Robbin Laird On June 3, 2025, I had a chance to meet with Air Vice-Marshal Glen Braz, Air Commander Australia, to follow up on his participation in the Sir Richard Williams Foundation seminar held on May 23, 2025. What I specifically wanted to talk with him about is the…
Recently, DVIDS. provided a story which highlights how reworking maintenance regimes can enhance the readiness of the MV-22. Frankly, this is a core theme which needs to be addressed across the ready force: how can we rework organaiatoxal and structural arrangements to enhance the readiness of the "fight tonight" force?…
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's diplomatic visits to Russia and China in May have sparked intense debate in Brazil, with major newspapers condemning his attendance at Moscow's Victory Day parade while largely supporting the economic outcomes of his Beijing trip. The Brazilian leader's presence at Russia's May 9 Victory…
By Robbin Laird I had the opportunity to meet with Lt. General Simon Stuart, Chief of the Australian Army in. his office on 19 May 2025. We discussed a specific aspect of the way ahead for the Australian Army, namely its role in Australian littoral operations. In an era where…
By Pierre Tran Paris - An Indian all-party parliamentary delegation led by Ravi Shankar Prasad, a former law and justice minister, met the French and foreign press May 27, as part of New Delhi’s bid to rally political and media support in a long standing conflict with Pakistan. Those nine members…
By Petty Officer 2nd Class Chelsea Palmer When you combine mission focus, teamwork, technical expertise, and creativity, the results are remarkable if not predictable. Training Support Vessel Squadron (TSVRON) 4 is no exception. The 70-person team comprised of four training support vessels operating under the umbrella of Carrier Strike Group…
Stephen Kuper of Defence Connect in an interview with Dr. Ross Babbage held before the recent Federal elections discussed the changing global order. The pair discussed a range of subjects following Babbage’s recent trip to the United States, including: Australia’s need to prepare for a more direct involvement in kinetic…
