As tensions in the South China Sea reach new heights, the United States and Philippines are dramatically expanding their military cooperation through a combination of new infrastructure projects and cutting-edge unmanned systems. The United States plans to fund and construct a facility capable of hosting watercraft and assault boats on…
By Robbin Laird The AUKUS partnership stands at a critical juncture. Born from the vision of three leaders who have since left the political stage, this ambitious trilateral alliance centers on one of the most complex defense undertakings in modern history: enabling Australia, a non-nuclear nation, to operate nuclear-powered attack…
By Robbin Laird I have been coming to Australia since 2014 and writing the seminar reports for the Sir Richard Williams Foundation bi-annual seminar reports. I have done so because of my deep commitment to the U.S.-Australian relationship but more generally because of my concern with the rise of multi-polar…
Ukraine's defense of its homeland has demonstrated a remarkable evolution in modern military strategy, showcasing how a defending nation can leverage both established military doctrine and cutting-edge innovation to counter a numerically superior adversary. The Ukrainian approach represents a new paradigm in what we might call a hybrid operational force…
While Taiwan tensions are often viewed through a U.S.-China lens, the gravest strategic consequences would fall on Japan and the Philippines. Chinese control of Taiwan would fundamentally alter the regional balance, potentially isolating both nations and forcing them into accommodation with Chinese regional dominance regardless of U.S. positions. Taiwan's location…
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,…
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…
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…
