It was an airborne middle finger to Trump and Xi before they sit... by Euan Graham

It was an airborne middle finger to Trump and Xi before they sit down for their summit.

Euan Graham

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A port is the missing leg of the stool in U.S. military engagemen... by Euan Graham

A port is the missing leg of the stool in U.S. military engagement with Australia.

As a defense partner, you need assets. It is no good saying that you uphold the international rules-based order, you need something that will be useful for Australia and the United States, the most obvious way is to have the same system, the P-8.

As a defence partner, you need assets. It is no good saying that you uphold the international rules-based order, you need something that will be useful for Australia and the United States, the most obvious way is to have the same system, the P-8.

In its last policy paper in 2016, New Zealand talked about climate change and non-traditional concerns, things such as piracy and smuggling, while very much in third place was regional competition. This is now a central element, this will be welcomed by key international allies.

Russia has until now shown no signs of wanting to get on board wi... by Euan Graham

Russia has until now shown no signs of wanting to get on board with tougher sanctions.

They have no interest in talking, they're interested in locking in their gains, the hatches are down, economically Kim Jong Un has already priced in extra sanctions.

Let's not forget the ideological aspect of this, it's important to them to have this ability to demonstrate technological prowess.

By bringing the Soryu, it is demonstrating its range and then it gives the Australian navy the chance to exercise with it, including the opportunity to benchmark it against its existing Collins-class submarines.

China will see it in the context of the (Australian Defence) White Paper which they have already mentioned that they expressed a certain degree of dissatisfaction.

It would be more effective to demonstrate broader international concerns if Australia were to assert freedom of navigation under its own political and operational banner and not to ride U.S. coat-tails.

I think the U.S. is trying to get its allies to do more, there is an obvious symmetry between Japan as the upper anchor of the Western Pacific alliance and ... Australia as the southern anchor.