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Australia

Deterrence Without Resolve Is No Deterrence at All

Deterrence Without Resolve Is No Deterrence at All

Published: May 12, 2026 There is a comforting fiction at the heart of much contemporary strategic thinking: conventional military capabilities can substitute for nuclear deterrence without requiring the same political…
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Silent Signals: Russian and Chinese Conventional Threats to NC3 and U.S. Extended Deterrence in Australia

Silent Signals: Russian and Chinese Conventional Threats to NC3 and U.S. Extended Deterrence in Australia

Published: April 27, 2026 Introduction Russia’s recent deployment of a conventionally armed, diesel-powered submarine to Indonesia should not be dismissed as routine naval activity. It is a calculated strategic signal.…
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Beyond a Pacific Defense Pact 4: Blueprint for an Indo-Pacific Nuclear Alliance

Beyond a Pacific Defense Pact 4: Blueprint for an Indo-Pacific Nuclear Alliance

Published: April 9, 2026 The Indo-Pacific is rapidly emerging as the central theatre of global strategic competition. Unlike the Cold War in Europe, where nuclear deterrence involved two superpowers across…
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A Blueprint for Deterring War Over Taiwan

A Blueprint for Deterring War Over Taiwan

Published: March 23, 2026 Two parties have watched Operation Epic Fury (OEF) from a distance. China has been taking notes. The United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) has tracked munitions consumption…
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What the Pukpuk Mutual Defense Treaty Tells Us about the Pacific Security Order

What the Pukpuk Mutual Defense Treaty Tells Us about the Pacific Security Order

The declaration of the Pukpuk Treaty between Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia is a significant shift in the security order in the Pacific. Where small states were traditionally regarded…
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Deterrence Down Under Podcast: Australian Air Power and Deterrence with Chris McInnes

Deterrence Down Under Podcast: Australian Air Power and Deterrence with Chris McInnes

Carl and Christine explore how Australia can strengthen deterrence through air power—its challenges, strategic options, and evolving force structure. They’re joined by Chris McInnes, Executive Director of the Air Power…
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American Alliances in East Asia: An Australian Perspective

American Alliances in East Asia: An Australian Perspective

In a recent Foreign Affairs article, Ely Ratner outlines a case for a Pacific Defense Pact. The concept of collective defense in the Asia-Pacific is not a novel idea, however, the historical…
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Commonwealth Defense and Recruitment Hurdles

Commonwealth Defense and Recruitment Hurdles

The United Kingdom (UK), Canada, and Australia all have some of the most capable militaries on Earth, with histories of valor in various wars. However, all three countries in the…
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SLCM-N, the Virginia-Class Submarine, and AUKUS

SLCM-N, the Virginia-Class Submarine, and AUKUS

The sea-launched cruise missile–nuclear (SLCM-N) is a planned nuclear-armed cruise missile that is intended for deployment on US Navy submarines, potentially Virginia-class attack submarines, by 2034. Under Australia-UK-US (AUKUS) Pillar…
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Time to Proliferate Nuclear Weapons (or Not?)

Time to Proliferate Nuclear Weapons (or Not?)

Extended nuclear deterrence is a central tenet of America’s post–World War II strategy. For the first time however, it is being seriously questioned in both Europe and the Asia-Pacific. The…
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Trump’s Disintegrated Deterrence and Lessons for Australia

Trump’s Disintegrated Deterrence and Lessons for Australia

The American approach to deterrence has undergone a significant transformation during the initial months of President Donald Trump’s second administration. Where President Joe Biden’s national security strategy was premised on…
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Deterrence Down Under Podcast: Wargaming-A Strategic Tool for Defence with Darren Huxley and John McGarry

Deterrence Down Under Podcast: Wargaming-A Strategic Tool for Defence with Darren Huxley and John McGarry

This conversation delves into the significance of wargaming in enhancing defence strategies in Australia. The hosts and guests discuss the definitions, types, and structures of wargames, their target audiences, and…
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