Thomas Paterson will be receiving his Master of Strategic Studies (MSS) degree today, marking the celebration of two very busy and transformative years.
One of the largest and fastest growing expenditures in the federal budget, defence spending, will receive little or no debate, to the cost of our nation’s security.
Vladimir Putin’s talks with Joe Biden, followed by Russian diplomatic discussions with the US, NATO and the Commission on Security and Co-operation in Europe in Europe last week, have produced no progress whatsoever on Russia’s demands for the exclusion of Ukraine from NATO membership.
Now we know. For 20 years Australians have been happy to assume that America had the strength and resolve to remain the world's leading power. In particular, our leaders have assured us that we can rely on America's power and judgment to manage China's rise, to keep Asia stable and Australia safe. But now we know that America is not the country we thought it was.
Indonesia has asked Australia to caution its Pacific Island neighbours against interfering in the West Papua issue and to urge them to withdraw support for West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, warning that the issue could pose a “stumbling block” to closer bilateral ties.
Indonesia’s defence minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has raised the prospect of joint patrols during an annual meeting last week with Ms Bishop and Marise Payne, Australia’s defence minister. It comes as Mr Widodo prepares to address Australia’s parliament next week on his first state visit to the country.