By Pierre Tran Paris – Indonesia’s drive to become an Asian regional superpower can be seen in last month’s multi-billion dollar announcement of an order for more French Rafale fighters and a pledge to buy the export version of the U.S. F-15EX Eagle fighter. That procurement of two Western advanced…
By James Durso Will the Pentagon soon have all the money it desires, but not enough troops to realize its ambitions? After appropriating about $2.26 trillion for the Afghanistan misadventure that put the Taliban back in charge in Kabul, and another $2.21 trillion to destabilize Iraq and deliver it into…
By Robbin Laird Too often, the focus is upon Taiwan as a U.S.-Chinese problem or confrontation. Leaving aside the question of why the Communist Party ruling the mainland has any right to seize a free democracy, such a focus misses the question of who lives in the first island chain.…
By Pierre Tran Paris – Germany has kept the door open to France and Italy joining Berlin’s project for an extended European missile defense system in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a senior German government official said June 30. “The European Sky Shield Initiative is open to all…
By Robbin Laird The most recent seminar of The Sir Richard Williams Foundation focused on shaping a way ahead for Australia in the new strategic situation. At the heart of consideration was Australia facing the core challenges of deterrence. But as a non-nuclear power and as a junior partner in…
In a 6 April 2023 piece, Murielle Delaporte focused on the French Military Program Law for 2024-2030. The piece was published on the website of Eurosatory which highlights key developments shaping the 2024 Eurosatory exposition in Paris. In this excerpt from the article, the French Defence Minister’s focus on nuclear…
By Robbin Laird As global conflict continues apace, and Australia navigates its way ahead, there is a clear desire to defend Australia’s interests and to deter actions by China which significantly undercut those interests. But what does Australia wish to deter? How does it do so? And how does it…
By Robbin Laird In March 2020, I was visiting Western Australia including HMAS Sterling. I was there to visit the HMAS Rankin, one of the Collins class submarines homeported at HMAS Sterling on Garden Island. When I informed a senior U.S. Navy Admiral that I was going to visit the…
