Great to meet @fmalufti.bsky.social of CSIS Indonesia & @jatosint.bsky.social this afternoon! It's a fantastic source for everything happening in Indonesian defence. For those in JKT (or passing through) working on defence, security, and foreign policy topics, let me know - I'd love to connect 🇦🇺🤝🇮🇩

Some reflections from me on the last part of the discussion from the latest "Australia in the World" with @limdarrenj.bsky.social @stephendziedzic.bsky.social concerning alliances, the nature of broader security ties and commitments, and informal / quasi-formal partnerships.

I highly recommend Waleed Aly's most recent column addressing the politics of AUKUS, including the reaction to the updated optimal pathway, people’s inquiry & the reasons why its origins still loom over today’s debates. The conclusion stood out to me especially.

Another considered perspective from one of India's leading international security experts, C Raja Mohan, who offers these thoughts as part of a wider analysis of India's need for a "first principles" foreign policy reset. indianexpress.com/article/opin...

Did our first touristy thing in Jakarta today (only took us four months) and got occasionally bailed up by school kids for photos / vox pops with the bule including a grilling on what culture means to Aussies for some high schoolers' sociology class!

"What looks to be the worst oil crisis in history, accelerating the rise of the far right, presaging a(nother) global recession and mass food shortages in the global south, you say?"

The bilateral alliance is acknowledged as having a regional dimension, "inextricably linked with the security of the broader Pacific region." This will be enacted through increased regional force interoperability and support for combined ops, activities, and maritime activities.

Relatedly, this includes pursuing co-development, production, and sustainment; and focusing on the increased shared logistics, sustainment, and training opportunities that come from common operating platforms.

Importantly, the allies have committed to "operate and exercise as a more integrated Anzac force" and "employ common and complementary capabilities...including strike...autonomous systems, maritime and air platforms and equipment, and land systems".

Anzac 2035 includes increased force posture cooperation as well as the establishment of a bilateral Force Posture Working Group "to develop recommendations to advance force posture cooperation."

My favourite little security framework, the Five Power Defence Arrangements, appropriately rates a mention, as well as NATO IP4 and Five Eyes.

Further points in the Joint Statement on China's actions in the South China Sea and with regard to Taiwan and Xinjiang.

Sticking with the Joint Statement, there were a few interesting snippets in the context of recent PLA-N maritime activities near Australia and in the Southwest Pacific.

DefMins Marles & Collins also released the Anzac 2035 Vision Statement to operationalise Closer Defence Relations, encompassing force posture activities; combined ops & exercises; force preparedness, resilience, and defence industry integration; and Pacific security initiatives.

Phase 1 of the books have arrived, and interim desk is set up. Starting to feel more settled into Jakarta. 🇦🇺🇮🇩

A lovely penultimate afternoon in Sydney at Greenwich Baths, but even more importantly given my birding proclivities, we were graced by an osprey gliding over the harbour bays - my first ever sighting in the wild 🤩

Teach them young, the ways of Age of Empires 2. "Mandaten...Fisk...Gaderer."

Happy Christmas, all! ✝️

The final stage of packing up the house ahead of the move to Indonesia: getting my Warhammer minis ready to travel. Stay strong, brothers - for the Lion! 🫣🤞

In what may be my last in-person engagement on staff @nscanu.bsky.social, it feels fitting that it's for our 15th anniversary celebrations: joining @rorymedcalf.bsky.social, current & former colleagues; students; exec ed alums to reflect on all that's been built in that time & looking ahead to 2040.

Always a delight to be back on Monocle Radio, this time with Vincent McAviney to discuss the new Australia-Indonesia security treaty, the prospects of an Indo-Pacific NATO, and Australian defence spending. My segment starts at 32:00

What a joy to begin the week, and my last month working in Canberra (for now), at the Australian National Prayer Breakfast hearing my friend @johnpauldickson.bsky.social teaching from Romans 12:11-18. Conviction and compassion. Zeal united with grace, empathy, and joy. Rejoice in hope.

Picking up on this point from Rory Medcalf, I've also been struck by the very explicit "interests-forward" framing of the alliance that Labor has set out over the last year. It's a real shift, not only from the Abbott/Hockey era, but I'd say Howard/Downer, too.

This is the kind of direct - and accurate - headline writing that these circumstances require. Don't obfuscate, don't euphemise.

The true duality of LinkedIn - have you considered that you might simultaneously be suited to a position as either a relatively junior analyst or a Commonwealth department head? 🤔😂

A bit slow on the uptake on my part, but it was a privilege to be interviewed for this recent article in Tempo about the future role of Indonesia in the Indo-Pacific and US-China relations in Southeast Asia. www.tempo.co/internasiona...

There was much more said, including parliamentary vs. presidential systems, the make-up of the Australian and US bureaucracies, the APS's unique expertise and advisory functions, and a few prominent individuals' cases...including @dieworkwear.bsky.social

Hello there, national institutions! #CBR

The little fella's first chance to watch a Wallabies game live - nice to have one during the day! 🦘🏉

A defence/espionage adventure novel by a first-time Aussie author who's also a fellow ANU SDSC Masters graduate? This deserves a read!