By Robbin Laird It is clear that 1914 was a clear turning point in European history with clear impacts on global history and development. While the 19thCentury saw the rise of the European powers, the coming of World War I destroyed the European dominance of the global system. 2014 is…
The Williams Foundation launched a series of seminars in 2013 which address the transformation of theADF into a fifth generation force. Last year, we focused on the strategic shift from the land wars to crisis management with peer competitors. The next seminar to be held in Canberra on April 11,…
The Australian government signed an agreement in 2016 with Naval Group to build a new class of attack submarines. There have been challenges to reach a partnering agreement, including intellectual property and other issues. Last month, a core partnering agreement was signed enabling further working relationships to be established essential…
We have just published the third version of report on German defense. According to Brigadier General (Retired) Meyer sum Felde: “Priority must now be again on collective defence and related high intensity warfighting capabilities for credible deterrence. “The Bundeswehr must become again essential part of the conventional backbone of defence…
“Germany's challenge is to recognize that history and geography have not disappeared as key factors shaping Germany’s prosperity and security; and that Germany needs as well to focus upon re-energizing the European project as well. If Germany became a nation isolated in a disaggregating Europe, Germany itself might disintegrate as a…
This year's Munich Security Conference 2019 did a good job of reflecting the conventional wisdom in Europe about the Trump Administration, and allowing geopolitical adversaries of the United States a good world stage. And Chancellor Merkel provided a "feel good" speech to rally Europeans nostalgic for a world before Donald…
Social media, tweeting, and various other coms tools are largely being used either to shape and reinforce self-defined communities or to provide the means to attack “them” while we define “us.” John Stuart Mill would not thrive in this environment. He who knows only his own side of the case,…
By Robbin Laird Having just returned from my latest trip to Germany to discuss the significant challenge facing Germany in shaping a credible force to provide for its direct defense and to contribute effectively to NATO’s overall collective defense, it is clear that for the near to mid term the…
