The China Challenge: An Australian Perspective

07/30/2019
By Brendan Sargeant China has always loomed large in Australia’s strategic imagination. It is a major Asian power with vast economic and strategic potential. It has a long history of cultural and political engagement across the Indo Pacific and it borders the Eurasian landmass as well as the Pacific Ocean.…

Shaping a Way Ahead for the Direct Defense of the Liberal Democracies: The Potential Australian Role

07/27/2019
By Robbin Laird Recently, the CSBA released two reports authored by Ross Babbage, the well-known Australian strategist, which focus on 21stcentury warfare and deterrence. These reports draw on a total of 14 case studies prepared by regional experts to argue the need for the liberal democracies to shape a cohesive…

The French Minister of Defense Lays Out the Way Ahead for French Military Space Policy

07/26/2019
By Pierre Tran Paris - Armed forces minister Florence Parly set out July 25 a strategy for boosting military capability in space, backed by a funding boost of €700 million ($780 million) and plans to field lasers to disable space-borne threats to French satellites. Parly also said a space command…

The Australian Defence Minister Visits the UK: July 2019

07/16/2019
Recently, the new Australian Defence Minister visited the UK to discuss common ground as the two regional powers discussed ways to enhance their collaboration in the period ahead. In an article by Stephen Kuper published on July 10, 2019, the focus of the Minister’s visit to the UK was the…

Post-Global Hawk Shoot-down: Next US Moves With Regard to Iran

06/26/2019
By Lt. General (Retired) Deptula After the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps shot down an unmanned and unarmed U.S. Navy surveillance drone last week, President Trump exercised significant restraint, calling off a planned kinetic strike against the offending surface-to-air missile (SAM) launch site. Many—including the Iranian leadership—expected to see a retaliatory attack in…

The Return of Geography: The Central Role of Air-Seapower Integration for Post-Brexit Britain

06/17/2019
By Robbin Laird During my most recent visit to London, a senior defense official flat out stated: “With the return of geography, the focus needs to be clearly on our Northern and Southern Flanks, and this means the emphasis needs to be placed upon air-naval integration. "The Royal Navy and…

The Evolving Dynamic Missile Threat: A European Response

06/17/2019
By Pierre Tran Paris - Western allies face the threat of a wide range of Chinese and Russian ballistic missiles and cruise weapons, while North Korea and Iran look to their missile capability to back up claims to regional power. The nature of the development of Chinese and Russian missile…

Calouste Gulbenkian: “The Art of the Deal”

06/16/2019
By Kenneth Maxwell Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian (1869-1955) was known during his lifetime as "Mr. Five Per Cent.” This was after his personal share of Middle East oil. He has remained a very elusive historical individual, a spider at the heart of a veritable global web, an oilman and financier, who…