A sampling of recent research efforts, articles and podcasts
Il piano dell’Australia per opporsi alla Cina
November 2024 - Carl Rhodes (invited article for Limes Rivista Italiana di Geopolitica)
Australia’s relations with China have seen a partial reset, with economic coercion easing but military intimidation persisting. The 2024 National Defence Strategy, emphasizing a “strategy of denial,” aims to deter conflict and protect Australia’s sovereignty through increased defense spending and a focus on increased cooperation with the US. While the strategy prioritizes near-term capabilities, concerns remain about the pace of acquisition and the potential impact on long-term readiness.
Small Aircraft, Sizeable Threats: Preparing Army to Counter Small Uncrewed Aerial Systems
2024 - Carl Rhodes
Small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS) are widely available, militarily effective and challenging to defeat. This Occasional Paper on counter-sUAS, prepared under the Army Research Scheme, reviews recent employment of sUAS and evaluates methods to sense and engage these systems.
Australia needs a centre of excellence to counter small drones
3 September 2024 - Carl Rhodes
The Australian Army must ensure all its soldiers understand the danger posed by small, cheap drones and train them to counter that threat. To best support our forces, a centre of excellence that gathers existing knowledge and provides timely intelligence to Defence is needed.
The US Must Handle Its Fiscal Challenges
10 June 2024 - Carl Rhodes
The United States government finds itself in an unprecedented financial situation. Over the next 12 months, the amount of public debt held by the federal government will exceed the size of the nation’s economy. What does this mean for defence spending and national security?
Deterrence Down Under: The Role of Mass in Modern Strategy
2 December 2024 - Carl Rhodes, Natalie Treloar and Christine Leah
Natalie, Christine and Carl are joined by NATO Director of Nuclear Policy, Jim Stokes. They discuss how extended deterrence works at NATO, NATO’s role in the Indo-Pacific, the strategic challenge posed by China, specifically its nuclear buildup, and how NATO needs complementarity and coherence between conventional and nuclear deterrence and defense.
Defence Connect Podcast: Talking Australia’s Strategic Future with Hugh White
28 October 2024 - Carl Rhodes, Natalie Treloar, Christine Leah and Hugh White
The group discuss a range of topics, including the evolution of deterrence theory throughout the Cold War and in the post-Cold War world as we face an era of great power competition and Australia’s history of using deterrence-focused platforms.
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