This Month
PM green lights Australia-EU defence pact and Canada joining AUKUS
Anthony Albanese said the nation needs to broaden its security relationships in a volatile world.
If AUKUS falls over, Australia is left with very little indeed
For the past three years, Labor’s national security team has steadfastly insisted that it has no plan B. This Pentagon review will stress test that formula.
Australia, EU explore security pact in bid to ‘defend peace’
Europe’s ambassador in Canberra has revealed that the Albanese government has started discussions about a bilateral pact.
May
Albanese rejects questions on Russian airbase
The prime minister refuses to answer what Australia knew about Moscow’s reported request to base military aircraft in Indonesia.
April
Election campaign leaves defence questions unanswered
The real leadership test for both sides of politics this Anzac Day is whether they can match remembrance for our military past with readiness for what’s coming.
Russia will try again for a South-East Asian airbase, say strategists
Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam could be pressured, according to military analysts, after Indonesia rebuffed a Moscow request for a military presence.
Brimming with rewards – but mind the risks
China’s answer to ChatGPT drastically cuts computing costs, but experts are wary of the security concerns.
Marles won’t say if US pressure led to Port of Darwin U-turn
Defence Minister Richard Marles declined on four occasions to say what had occurred since late 2023 to change the policy on the port’s Chinese ownership.
‘We’re not for sale’: Darwin Port rebuffs PM, Dutton takeover pledge
Both Labor and the Coalition are on a unity ticket that Darwin port’s Chinese owner should have its 99-year lease axed.
March
How personal messaging apps invaded our work life
The war plan leak saga says a lot about the irksome blurring of job and play on the chat software that have come to dominate so much of daily life.
Trump’s defence secretary sent secret war plans to journalist
Pete Hegseth discussed plans for deadly military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in a chat group that included the editor of The Atlantic.
The fundamental problem at the heart of defence policy
Australia is facing its most dangerous external environment since the Second World War. Yet, its capacity to deliver a meaningful capability to meet the hour operates on Old Father Time.
Chinese coercion, Trump tariffs put heat on economic security
A review of Australia’s intelligence agencies calls for a new focus on economic security to counter threats to supply chains and rising protectionism.
Three questions about higher defence spending
If the Defence Department is to receive more taxpayer money, it should not be treated as a sacred cow.
Dutton wants deportation referendum to fix ‘restrictive’ Constitution
The opposition leader says spending as much as $450 million on a poll to give the government powers to expel criminal dual nationals would be value for money.
February
Chinese warships a wake-up call to step up our maritime security
The clear and present China threat that sailed so close to home must mobilise the political class to take action.
Taiwan detains Chinese-crewed ship after undersea cable severed
Taiwan is preparing for the worst in an escalating subsea infrastructure battle after authorities detained a Chinese-crewed cargo vessel suspected of sabotage.
Top Trump aide pushes to axe Canada from Five Eyes intelligence group
But Peter Navarro denies that he wants to expel the northern neighbour from the information-sharing team, which also includes the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Trump’s tempest and China’s live-fire means Australia must do more on defence
Trump’s capricious foreign policy and ambiguous commitment to alliances mean we need to become more self-sufficient in how we safeguard our security
Jewish hate crimes yet to plateau, ASIO boss warns
The top spy used an annual threat assessment to warn the fallout from the October 7 Hamas terror attacks includes Jews being conflated with Israel’s actions.