by Marcus Hellyer | Jun 16, 2025 | AUKUS, Defence Budget, Strategy & Capability
It’s been an eventful couple of weeks in AUKUS submarine land. The event that made the biggest splash, at least in Australia, was the United States’ announcement that Under Secretary for Defense Policy Elbridge Colby would lead a review of AUKUS ‘to ensure it aligns...
by Peter Jennings | Jun 15, 2025 | AUKUS, Defence Budget, Strategy & Capability
The Albanese government’s handling of AUKUS has been lazy, half-hearted and inattentive. The good news? If the PM really wants to salvage this mess, he can. Defence Minister Richard Marles says he’s “very confident” AUKUS is on track. Confidence, however, is no...
by Michael Shoebridge | Jun 12, 2025 | AUKUS, Defence Budget, Strategy & Capability
So, the US is reviewing the AUKUS sub deal to align it with Donald Trump’s America First approach and to ensure Australia and the UK are stepping up on collective defence. As America does this review, Australia should take a fresh look too, so we know what we...
by Michael Shoebridge | Jun 4, 2025 | AUKUS, China, Defence Budget, Strategy & Capability
As Anthony Albanese’s election euphoria fades, the hard work of his second term has begun. And there’s probably not much that’s more difficult than navigating his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the G7 in Alberta Canada. Mr Trump demonstrated his lack...
by Peter Jennings | Jun 3, 2025 | Defence Budget, Indo Pacific, Strategy & Capability
Pete Hegseth, the tough-talking US Secretary of Defence, has “conveyed” to Richard Marles “that Australia should increase its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of its GDP as soon as possible”. A “readout” of this meeting was released by the US Department of...