Shaping a Way Ahead for the Australian Submarine Capability: The Perspective of Vice Admiral (Retired) Barrett

10/19/2021
By Robbin Laird During my visit to Europe earlier this Fall, the surprise announcement of the Morrison Administration’s decision to shift from their French alliance to deliver a long-range diesel submarine to acquiring nuclear submarine capability through an alliance with the United States and Britain was made. I talked with…

Shaping a Way Ahead for Polish Defense and Security: The Perspective of Dr. Jacek M. Raubo

10/07/2021
By Robbin Laird During my recent visit to Warsaw to attend the Defence 24 conference on Polish defense, I had a chance to talk with Dr. Jacek M. Raubo, an Assistant Professor at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and noted journalist as well. We discussed a number of issues regarding…

Finland Issues New Defence White Paper, September 2021

10/05/2021
According to a news release on the Finnish Ministry of Defence website, the Finnish government has released its latest defence white paper. At its meeting on 9 September 2021, the Government approved the Defence Report to be submitted to Parliament. The Report and its implementation ensure that Finland's defence capability…

An Australian Strategy for National Resilience

10/04/2021
By Robbin Laird My colleague John Blackburn has focused for some time on the importance of the Australian defence forces becoming more sustainable from Australian sources. He then broadened his look at resilience to the energy and then maritime sectors. This was PRIOR to the pandemic. With our societies facing…

The Defence 24 Conference on Polish Defence, September 2021

10/01/2021
By Robbin Laird Warsaw I am in Warsaw and have just attended the two-day conference held by Defence 24. According to the organization: “Defence24 Group, the publisher of Defence24.pl portal, is organizing a third edition of Defence24 DAY & SOFEAST conference, focused on the major issues in the areas of…

A Renewed Effort to Shape a European Rapid Reaction Force

09/07/2021
By Pierre Tran Paris - Europeans have dusted off the concept of a European rapid reaction force in response to a lack of U.S. cooperation with allies in the chaotic withdrawal from Kabul. The European Union’s pursuit of the concept of strategic autonomy may have won greater political support, but…

The Launch of Australia’s Defence Data Strategy

08/19/2021
According to an article published by the Australian Department of Defence on August 4, 2021, the government has launched a new defence data strategy. The world is experiencing rapid digitisation and growth in the creation of data. The increasing connection of services to the internet is exposing vulnerabilities in global…