“I understand that the deal Prime Minister Starmer has made, according to many, the best he could make.” www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

'Beijing’s bid to host the secretariat of High Seas Treaty has brought ASEAN’s long-standing maritime anxieties back into focus, raising doubts about whether stewardship of the global commons can be separated from tensions in the South China Sea and.. the Arctic.' cambodianess.com/article/beij...

New issue of @bluesecprogram.bsky.social Maritime Affairs by Su Wai Mon and Vu Hai Dang on cybersecurity at Southeast Asia's ports.

'But since late last year, some Japanese officials have been discreetly urging [fisherman] Nakama and his peers to steer clear of the remote outcrops - known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China - to avoid escalating a diplomatic clash with Beijing'.

I'm quoted in SCMP, thanks Maria Siow for the opportunity to comment. 'The Will for Peace exercise should not be read as Brics abandoning its economic agenda altogether, according to Troy Lee-Brown, a research fellow at UWA’s Defence and Security Institute.' www.scmp.com/week-asia/po...

On Monday, [Gor] was formally welcomed as the ambassador at an event in Delhi...Classic American songs filled the room - a playlist.. personally chosen by the ambassador - ranging from Hello by Lionel Richie to YMCA by Village People and Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash.' www.bbc.com/news/article...

Add this great new Maritime Affairs issue to your summer reading list by Thu Nguyen Hoang Anh.

Great new issue of Maritime Affairs!!

'South Korea's Marine Corps Commandant Ju Il-suk will meet with his counterparts from Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines on Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen security in the region and expand military cooperation with the nations.' www.koreaherald.com/article/1059...

‘Defence Minister Richard Marles said the Australian P-8 surveillance plane was conducting a routine patrol over the South China Sea when it was approached by a People's Liberation Army (PLA) Su-35 fighter jet that released flares two of them "very close" to the P8.’ www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

'India has secured agreement from govt of Mauritius allowing it to establish a satellite station in Chagos archipelago'. This follows on from an agreement made in September to allow Indian naval vessels to conduct hydrographic surveys of the archipelago. www.maritime-executive.com/article/indi...

'Apaches can project lethal vertical firepower forward to deny adversaries freedom of movement, to support marine and amphibious insertions, protect key bases and lines of communication, and respond rapidly to challenges in remote areas.' nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/wh...

I write for ASPI on improving the resilience of Australia's network of northern airbases. "Geography dictates the importance of an effective northern base network. Time, however, is the critical factor and Australia cannot afford further delay." www.aspistrategist.org.au/australias-n...

"ATLAS’s operational acceptance is a first step to improving the Space Force’s ability to detect, track, and characterize objects in space in a precise enough way to allow persistent “eyes” on adversary satellites." breakingdefense.com/2025/09/spac...

INS Nistar already contributing to regional deep sea S&R in Southeast Asia just a couple of months after she was commissioned. With the proliferation of manned underwater assets in the region, the ability to conduct rescues quickly & safely is paramount. economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence...

Good outline of some of the strategic maneuvering by regional and extra-regional powers in Bay of Bengal. www.dhakatribune.com/opinion/op-e...

The announcement of a shipbuilding plan by India designed for both commercial and strategic purposes and working alongside trusted partners. This is a smart move by India designed to increase strategic self-reliance over maritime transport and therefore trade.

A comprehensive new United States Studies Centre report outlining a number of principles to drive diplomatic, economic and security engagement over the next decade in the Indian Ocean by Peter Dean and Alice Nason. www.ussc.edu.au/an-australia...

I'm quoted in the @scmpnews.bsky.social: “The broader strategic logic of reinforcing allied undersea capability in the Indo-Pacific remains compelling enough to outweigh the Trump administration’s protectionist impulses”. www.scmp.com/week-asia/ec...

Plastic pellets and maritime security www.themorning.lk/articles/E3c...

Japan's NEC to maintain a fleet of specialised cable ships much like SubCom (US), ASN (France), and HMN Tech (China) already do. ts2.tech/en/japans-30...

These authors reflect on their war techno-thriller that imagined the future fight — and then watched much of it come true.

Australian defence industry trade mission to India from Oct 6-10 much along the lines of India's def industry delegation to Land Forces in 2024. Maritime security central to the partnership. India to have a bigger presence at the 2027 Talisman Sabre: anon ADF spox. news.abplive.com/india-at-204...

'US President Donald Trump's administration is on a mission to weaken China's global network of ports and bring more strategic terminals under Western control'. According to 3 sources familiar with the plan, but article does compile numerous WH efforts in this sector. www.reuters.com/world/china/...

Advocates for an Indian Ocean trilateral or a Quad including India, UK, France & increased UK-India collaboration on MDA in the IOR. www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

Slam poetry from the US Sec of War.

A new issue of Maritime affairs from the @bluesecprogram.bsky.social by @prakashg.bsky.social and Lucky Wuwung who argue that that regional blue economy aspirations are deeply intertwined with geopolitical realities.

'In an editorial marking the start of the trial the O Globo newspaper said 2 September would go down in history as the day Brazil finally broke its “humiliating tradition” of failing to prosecute coup-mongering presidents'. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

'Hanwha said the ship is a symbol of the bilateral partnership and vowed to make additional investments to ramp up the shipyard's annual production capacity from the current 1.5 ships to 20 ships.' www.koreaherald.com/article/1056...

Japan to provide security aid to East Timor, making it the 8th recipient country (Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Fiji, Mongolia) since 2023, as part of efforts to boost defense cooperation with Southeast Asian countries. mainichi.jp/english/arti...

'The Indian Navy is set to commission the latest state-of-the-art Project 17A multi-mission stealth frigates, 'Udaygiri' and 'Himgiri', at Naval Base, Visakhapatnam, on August 26'. economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence...

“We have decided to strengthen our cooperation in defence and security. An action plan has been prepared for this. India will provide cooperation in training and equipment to improve Fiji’s maritime security,” Modi said after a meeting with Rabuka. www.deccanherald.com/india/india-...

'When mangroves vanish, symbols of identity dissolve, coastlines retreat, and the very reach of sovereignty begins to blur... If states wish to keep their heartlands intact, they must recognise that sovereignty today is rooted as much in mangrove forests.' www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

'That is why capacity-building – which includes training, establishing platforms, and analytic support – is a constructive approach to strengthening MDA cooperation efforts.' www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

Interesting piece that connects India's maritime history to its future by the VC of JNU. Also, mentions 3 new maritime focused research centres. sundayguardianlive.com/opinion/the-...

'to foster national consciousness of the country’s maritime character Malacañang has launched a nationwide awareness campaign... [that] directs all gov agencies & local gov units (LGUs) & private stakeholders to promote the PH as a maritime & archipelagic nation.' www.manilatimes.net/2025/07/23/b...

'Sri Lanka’s strategic location and maritime heritage offer a foundation for economic renewal. With wise governance, sustainability, and balanced geopolitics, its ports could once again become vital gateways to regional prosperity and global trade.' theconversation.com/as-sri-lanka...

"A state-of-the-art British fighter jet that has been stuck at an Indian airport for more than five weeks is set to fly out on Tuesday. The F-35B is due to be "pulled back from the hangar today and the departure is scheduled for Tuesday", an airport spokesman told BBC." www.bbc.com/news/article...

Fantastic new @bluesecprogram.bsky.social Maritime Affairs issue by Muhamad Arif who utilises strategic culture to unpick how Indonesia formulates it maritime policies.

'Joint submarine rescue exercises with countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, or Australia could build interoperability and enhance India’s standing as a dependable partner. INS Nistar could be positioned for multi-nation contingency roles, especially for smaller states,' www.wionews.com/india-news/i...

'It is thought that MSDF’s six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts will be sent to Philippines. Abukuma-class destroyers are 109m long & displace 2,000 tons. The ships which require a crew of about 120 are equipped with anti-submarine & anti-ship missiles.' japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/def...

'Flying missions over the northern Indian Ocean, Australian & Indian P-8 crews supported the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales' RAAF & IN P-8 crews provided MDA & ASW sorties for the carrier strike group. www.contactairlandandsea.com/2025/07/02/a...

Quad has launched 1st “Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission” to strengthen maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. “Two officers, including women officers from each country, have embarked on board US Coast Guard Cutter Stratton which is currently sailing to Guam.” www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/q...

'Babcock has confirmed it has begun long-lead work on the UK’s future SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines, with new contracts secured during the past financial year for the first elements of the vessel’s weapon handling and launch systems.' ukdefencejournal.org.uk/work-begins-...

'Mazagon Dock, along with Colombo Dockyard and Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard, signed a tripartite agreement on Friday (June 27) under which MDL will acquire the Japanese company’s controlling stake in Colombo Dockyard.' www.wionews.com/india-news/i...

'Defence ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in China were unable to adopt a joint statement at the end of their talks due to a lack of consensus on referring to "terrorism", the Indian foreign ministry said on Thursday.' www.reuters.com/world/china/...

'Secretary Rubio will host FMs from Australia, India & Japan for the 2025 Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting on July 1st in Washington. The Sec’s first diplo engagement was with the Quad & next week’s summit builds on momentum to advance a free, open & secure Indo-Pacific' www.state.gov/briefings/de...

While Australia & US have consistently acknowledged & supported Indonesia’s archipelagic status, differing interpretations of elements of those rights are a point of divergence. This article explores ways to minimise future frictions around FON rights through this critically located archipelago.

Coast Guard to receive drones from Australia Both countries to strengthen civil-maritime security cooperation www.thedailystar.net/news/banglad...

Why am I so unimpressed by these strikes? Israel and the US have failed to target significant elements of Iran's nuclear materials and production infrastructure. RISING LION and MIDNIGHT HAMMER are tactically brilliant, but may turn out to be strategic failures. 🧵 1/17