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Maritime gaps remain in Australia’s defence
22 April 2026 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in Lowy's The Interpreter on 22 April 2026 Image: HMAS Canberra and HMAS Warramunga while on deployment on the East Coast of Australia (Defence images) In 2023, the Australian government adopted a “strategy of denial” to guide defence planning, defined as an “defensive approach designed to stop an adversary from succeeding in its goal to coerce states through force, or the threatened use of force, to achieve dominance.” Th
A Sound Strategy, Still Underfunded
20 April 2026 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Australian Financial Review on 16 April 2026 Does Australia have the capability to defend itself and protect its maritime lifelines? Under the current funding profile, the answer is no, we would be relying on the United States to do it for us. The second iteration of the National Defence Strategy arrives against the backdrop of conflict in the Middle East already affecting Australia’s fuel, fertiliser, plastics sup
A new Army chief for a more dangerous world
15 April 2026 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald Image: Australian Army officer Colonel Susan Coyle, CSC, Commander Task Group Afghanistan, at the graduation ceremony for 3rd Kandak. With wars in Europe and the Middle East, and Chinese naval task groups operating closer to Australia, the familiar line that this is our most challenging strategic environment since World War II is starting to feel dated. We are certainly in a more dangerous peri
What will it take to get ships going through the Strait of Hormuz again?
10 April 2026 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in The Conversation on 10 April 2026 Image: A photo released by the Royal Thai Navy showing the Thai-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree shortly after it was hit by Iranian projectiles 11 nautical miles off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, Mar. 11, 2026. Royal Thai Navy Share article Print article Wednesday’s ceasefire announcement by President Donald Trump, linked to Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, prompte
Australia depends on seaborne trade. AUKUS is our best plan to protect that
Jennifer Parker | 1 April 2026 *Originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald 31 March 2026 Image: The Astute-class submarine HMS Anson arrives at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia for a scheduled Submarine Maintenance Period (SMP). Australians feeling the sting of high fuel prices at the bowser, or seeing supplies struggle to reach regional communities, are being reminded just how dependent Australia is on the arrival of supplies by sea. That dependence sits at the cen