Australia stands at a maritime crossroads. The choices it makes in the coming years will shape not only its security and economic prosperity, but also the stability of the wider Indo-Pacific region. The Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition, as covered in detail by The Australian, showcased this inflection point: expanding…
By Robbin Laird We stand at a peculiar moment in history where multiple powerful forces are reshaping the global order, yet these variables of change do not converge toward any clear, coherent outcome. This paradox defines our era: dramatic transformation without discernible destination. In a recent conversation I had with…
In the early morning hours of February 8, 2025, a 9-meter tall clock in downtown Vilnius reached zero, marking one of the most significant geopolitical transformations in European energy history. As the final seconds ticked away, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania severed their last physical connection to the Soviet-era power infrastructure…
By Robbin Laird After learning about the International Flight Training School during my visit to Rome in November 2024, I was eager to understand more about Italy's innovative approach to shaping air power training. The opportunity came in October 2025, when I returned to Italy to meet with Italian Air…
By Robbin Laird The Sir Richard Williams Foundation's September 18, 2025 seminar posed a fundamental question that cuts to the heart of modern defense planning: How does a nation achieve "readiness at the speed of relevance" when the luxury of time may no longer exist? The presentations provided sobering but…
By Robbin Laird In a discussion at the Sir Richard Williams Foundation seminar on September 18, 2025, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, Chief of Air Force, provided comprehensive insights into the Royal Australian Air Force's strategic direction and operational philosophy. Speaking to Air Marshal (Retired) Brown and an audience of defence…
In August 2025, Admiral Daryl Caudle assumed the role of the 34th Chief of Naval Operations, inheriting a U.S. Navy facing extraordinary pressures. From shipyard backlogs and workforce challenges to evolving threats in the Indo-Pacific, the service confronts demands that will test every aspect of its institutional capacity. To mark…
By Robbin Laird The contemporary Indo-Pacific security environment presents a fundamental challenge to traditional alliance structures: how can middle powers maintain strategic autonomy while deepening military cooperation with major power partners? This dilemma is particularly acute for Australia, which faces the competing imperatives of economic integration with China, security dependence…
