Happy Christmas eve & China military power report day to all who celebrate. Hope you've all been opening your "purged CMC members & PLA generals of 2025" advent calendar. media.defense.gov/2025/Dec/23/...

“a newly signed declaration will state for the first time that the respective deterrents of [UK & France] are independent but can be co-ordinated, and that there is no extreme threat to Europe that would not prompt a response by both nations.” www.gov.uk/government/n...

The most important number in the 2025 Lowy Poll. 21 years undefeated! Thanks Australia!

Job at NUS in Singapore - junior, tenure-track, and international relations. www.timeshighereducation.com/unijobs/list...

If you're in Ottawa, I'll be talking about my latest research for the International CrisisGroup on China-West strategic rivalry and Indo-Pacific geopolitics with Jonathan Berkshire Miller on May 14. Thanks to the Canadian International Council for hosting. Join us if you can!

“The opposition can club together to oust a sitting prime minister but then splinter over the divisive question of choosing an alternative leader,” writes Jon Fraenkel in The Interpreter. https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/bursting-solomon-islands-stability-bubble

“Sir Keir Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen will on Thursday finalise plans for a new UK/EU defence pact and an agreement on the sensitive area of fishing rights, paving the way for negotiations on a broader economic deal.” on.ft.com/4irTLjB

"I want to say in very clear words that these terrorists and those who conspired towards this attack will get a punishment bigger than they can imagine." This is stronger rhetoric than I have heard before, after earlier attacks.

OUT NOW Maritime Affairs Issue 11 | Securing Our Data: Subsea Cables and Maritime Security in Southeast Asia by @cynthia-mehboob.bsky.social & @fitbintim.bsky.social. www.latrobe.edu.au/__data/asset...

As much as anything, a positive and welcome sign of commitment to free trade at a time of rampant protectionism. www.beehive.govt.nz/release/upgr...

New Zealand extends NZDF training, intelligence and logistics deployments in support of Ukraine through to December 2026. www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-...

In 1973, Gough Whitlam responded to criticism about the price paid for Jackson Pollock’s abstract expressionist masterpiece “Blue Poles”, by joking it would at least help offset the US’s “adverse balance of payments” with Australia.

Looking forward to having Amitav Acharya as the 2025 Sir Howard Kippenberger Visiting Chair in Strategic Studies at the Centre for Strategic Studies @vicuniwgtn.bsky.social @davidcapie.bsky.social! Do join us (& register) for his exciting public lecture on 3 April! www.wgtn.ac.nz/strategic-st...

NZ’s India engagement gathering pace.

It'll be interesting to see if planes full of returning illegal immigrants plus the imposition of tariffs on Indian goods and services temper Delhi's enthusiasm for the return of Trump. PS. He still doesn't understand how tariffs work. www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/t...

Informative chapter on maritime security in New Zealand by @[email protected]

Interview with Winston Peters about review of NZ aid to Kiribati followed cancelled visit. Stresses need for “accountability”. Also asked about his recent call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and latest Trump pronouncements. www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

State Dept readout of call between Marco Rubio and Winston Peters. “The Secretary praised New Zealand’s commitment to defending our shared values and its proactive stance in aligning with like-minded partners to address these challenges.” www.state.gov/secretary-ru...

“A second New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) payload, hosted on a United States research satellite, has been successfully launched into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket.” www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre...

"Admiral Sir Ben Key, the head of the navy, is understood not to have asked for more sailors in his submission to the review, believing that in 20 to 30 years destroyers and frigates will be autonomous." www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/a...

“In a show of enhanced cooperation and interoperability between Australia and New Zealand, a senior member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has become Deputy Air Commander Australia (DACAUST) of RAAF as of January 13.” www.defence.gov.au/news-events/...

It’s hard to overstate how far Republican standards have sunk. In Trump I, John Ratcliffe’s nomination for DNI was withdrawn because he was considered inexperienced. He looks like Dean Acheson compared to Hegseth, who received rave reviews from Wicker & co today. Astonishing.

Today is the day! Delighted that this is out! Co-authored with Amitav Acharya @yalepress.bsky.social 1/n yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...

Farewell interview with departing US Ambassador to New Zealand Tom Udall. Touches on security ties, including AUKUS, trade and possible tariffs, climate and his interest in indigenous issues. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Jesus really has saved Pete Hegseth. He's now waxing lyrical about female engagement teams & how great they were in Iraq. He's about five minutes away from whipping out a copy of Carol Cohn and discussing the scourge of gendered language in defence.

Terrific seminar from Amitav Acharya & Manjeet S. Pardesi on their reconceptualisation of Indo-Pacific, ably chaired by ISEAS’ Ian Storey. Their forthcoming book “Divergent Worlds” is going to be a must read.

Penny Wong to represent Australia at Trump’s inauguration www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/penny...

“Our two governments cooperate across a range of shared interests, from expanding renewable energy generation in the Pacific to our desire to de-escalate conflict in the Middle East…This is a country where 4000 Kiwis are living and working..." www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

As the AUKUS pact enters its fifth year, I wrote a short update on how it’s faring- both Pillar 1 on submarines & Pillar 2 on advanced technology. More high-level focus needed on former in London & Canberra. Some pruning of projects needed on latter. www.economist.com/asia/2025/01...

🇮🇳 🇨🇳 What is the status and trajectory of India-China relations? 🎧 Listen to the latest episode of China Global with @BonnieGlaser and @tanvi_madan. www.gmfus.org/news/status-... to dive deeper in the topic.

I was very sorry to learn of the passing of Art Pomeroy, a brilliant Classicist and @VicUniWgtn colleague, Renaissance Man, wine aficionado, and lovely human being this afternoon. Art enriched the lives of everyone who knew him and will be very much missed. Rest in Peace Art.

In a little over a week! Hybrid event, please attend if you are in Singapore or register for the webinar!

“Brown confirmed that a letter had already been submitted to the Commonwealth for that purpose [potentially joining], but he was uncertain whether a response had been received.” www.rnz.co.nz/internationa...

Bit late to this, but looks like Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto will be the guest of honour at India's Republic Day parade on 26 January. theprint.in/india/india-...

Former New Zealand PM Jenny Shipley interviewed by Global Times. Comments on trade wars, tariffs on EVs, the role of former leaders, and AUKUS. www.globaltimes.cn/page/202412/...

“Lord Peter Mandelson is expected to be named as the UK's next ambassador to the US.” www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

New Zealand - New Caledonia Joint Statement “acknowledges 50 years of direct friendship and affirms our joint ambition to elevate our relationship to a new level of dialogue and cooperation in the years to come.” www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Media...

Are Australia and New Zealand 'natural allies'? Watch the recent expert panel discussion co-hosted with AIIA, featuring much needed analysis of the Trans-Tasman relationship. @davidcapie.bsky.social @joannewallis.bsky.social, @limdarrenj.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=M40q...

NZSIS Director Andrew Hampton’s speech to the New Zealand Institute of Intelligence Professionals in November. Discusses importance of partnering with community & business, need to build social licence, evolving violent extremist & foreign interference threats. www.nzsis.govt.nz/news/speech-...

I have my issues with the way the Marsden Fund has worked in recent years, but completely disbanding the social science and humanities funds is mind-bogglingly short sighted. There is already very little support for this work in NZ compared to Australia. www.beehive.govt.nz/release/mars...

Listening to Mark Sedwill in conversation with George Robertson, who is leading the UK’s strategic defence review, and Robert O’Brien, Trump’s former national security advisor. “President Trump was NATO’s biggest supporter,” says O’Brien, who remembers it a bit differently to me.

Last week, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and NSC Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania Mira Rapp-Hooper joined @csis.org to discuss the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. Watch the full event: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gzC...