Analysis - Defence Connect

‘Up for grabs’ an Australian century in the Indo-Pacific? Stranger things have happened

March 17 2025

We have heard a lot about an “American” and “Chinese” century, but with the Indo-Pacific in an ever-developing state of flux, ...

Time for more than a Plan B? Debate swirls around how Australia should respond to Trump’s unpredictability

With transactional politics now back in flavour and Australia’s “great and powerful friend”, the United States, looking increasingly unreliable, how we...

March 12 2025

Balancing act: Debate continues around Australia’s economic v national security

With Australia’s economy continuing to sputter along, the intersection of “whole-of-nation” security and prosperity has never been more important, which is...

March 11 2025

Australia requires a ‘self-insurance’ policy to weather perfect storm: Investment expert warns

The rapid rise of a multipolar world is reshaping global economies, stability, prosperity and security – leaving Australia no longer shielded by its geographic...

March 10 2025

US Pentagon hopeful confirms 3% is the floor, not the ceiling in warning to Australia

Donald Trump’s choice to be under-secretary of defence for policy at the Pentagon, Elbridge Colby, has put Australia’s policymakers on notice, warning that this...

March 07 2025

A ‘new look’ world requires a ‘new look’ National Security Strategy, but just what should that include?

Our world is changing right before our eyes and the status quo approach of “going with the flow” will no longer serve Australia well. Adapting to this environment...

March 06 2025

What sort of Defence policy do we need for the ‘new world’?

With the world becoming a more dangerous place, seemingly by the day, it is becoming clear that even our most recent defence policy developments leave a lot to be desired....

March 05 2025

Chinese cyber espionage activity on the rise, according to new report

Nation-state threats led by China have risen in 2024, with preventing a possible US response to an attack on Taiwan and disrupting the AUKUS alliance particular goals of the...

March 04 2025

The world has changed – has the Australian government taken notice?

Opinion: It’s important not to panic and to jump at ghosts and shadows. But when the facts change, a sane person changes their plans. Simply continuing down the same...

March 03 2025

Top takeaways: Palmer Luckey discusses rebuilding US defence industry, weaponising visas and expansionist China

American entrepreneur Palmer Luckey has shared his thoughts on how the United States can best rebuild its defence industry and contend with the expansionist aspirations of...

February 28 2025

China brings its tension and aggression in south-east Asia into the peaceful south Pacific

Opinion: The Chinese military’s no-notice live-firing between Australia and New Zealand is bringing deliberate and dangerous behaviour into our peaceful neighbourhood,...

February 27 2025

What exactly do we mean when we say Australia ‘must become a naval power’?

With Beijing’s recent exercises close to home, Jennifer Parker, retired naval officer and expert associate at the National Security College - Australian National...

February 26 2025

‘Adapt or die’, warns former MI6 chief in era of great power competition

Hard power looks to be back on the menu as nations long dependent on US strength are reeling from seismic global shifts, with former MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger warning allies...

February 25 2025

Building robust, trans-Tasman interoperability and interchangeability through leading-edge simulation

Opinion: Following the election of the Albanese and Luxon governments, there has been a marked increase in support of the historic defence partnership between Australia and...

February 24 2025

Foreign intelligence agencies targeting defence personnel, industry and AUKUS: ASIO

Foreign intelligence agencies will increase their targeting and sabotage of defence personnel, industry and AUKUS, according to a recent speech by the head of the Australian...

February 20 2025

Black, white and shades of grey: Why Australia needs to be less reductive in our approach to defence

The 2023 Defence Strategic Review introduced the idea of a “Focused Force” as the future direction of the nation’s defence strategy and force posture, but...

February 19 2025

Are we ready to hear hard truths, or will we continue burying our heads in the sand?

With concerns about the Australia–US relationship continuing to simmer away, highlighting our national psychology of anxiety, yet another commentator has highlighted...

February 18 2025

Nation-state hackers continue to target Australian organisations as grey-zone operations intensify year on year

While financial crime is the most common driver of cyber attacks against Australian entities, espionage is still a key concern of cyber professionals, according to a new...

February 17 2025

AUKUS: From strategic partnership to a deal kept on the road by Aussie cash

Opinion: No one should take any comfort from the recent engagement that Defence Minister Richard Marles had with newly appointed Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth in Washington...

February 13 2025

Drones in, humans out: Top takeaways from Elon Musk’s West Point military address

The age of human-piloted fighter aircraft is over, space is the ultimate high ground and the modern front-line warfare is a machine battlefield, according to a recent address...

February 13 2025