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AUKUS is about Australia's Vital Interests
16 January 2026 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Australian Financial Review on 16 June 2026 Image: HMA Ships Arunta and Warramunga sail towards a merchant ship in the East Australian Exercise Area during the Fleet Concentration Period. Defence images. Nuclear-powered submarines are not being acquired because Australia is seeking conflict but because it is a maritime trading country. The AUKUS “independent” inquiry opened last week with a familiar list of concer
Why is Australia buying used submarines? A naval expert answers key AUKUS questions
5 June 2026 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Conversation on 5 June 2026 Image: The Conversation (Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Minnesota, pictured here in Perth, is a Block II vessel.Colin Murty/AAP) Following the recent announcement that Australia would acquire three submarines already in US service rather than two used submarines and one new one, AUKUS has again dominated headlines. AUKUS is a defence capability agreement between the United States,
AUKUS Virginia-class switch is a fix, not a failure
4 June 2026 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Lowy Institute's The Interpreter on 4 June 2026 The announcement this week changed the mix of submarines Australia will receive – it did not change the program’s purpose, or its prospects. Image: United States Navy Virginia Class submarine USS Mississippi arrives at Fleet Base West, Rockingham, Western Australia for a routine port visit. Defence Images. Much of the reaction to this week’s AUKUS announcement that Austr
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
AUKUS is not on the rocks, despite the UK’s submarine troubles
14 January 2026 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald online 14 January and in print on 15 January 2026 Image: 2021 British Nuclear Submarine, HMS Astute, is alongside at Fleet Base West, Rockingham in Western Australia. The submarine is part of a larger task group and is enjoying some well earned time off in the Perth area after more than seven months on deployment. Defence Images As with 2025 , early 2026 again sees AUKUS, Australia’s plan to
Australia must not grow desensitised to China’s reckless actions
21 October 2025 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Australian Financial Review on 21 October 2025 Image: Philippine Military resupply mission was hit with a water canon from a Chinese Coast Guard cutter. Philippine Military Photo The White House meeting between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump produced a string of positives. Chief among them is Trump’s ringing endorsement of AUKUS and his first public commitment to sell nuclear-powered
AUKUS is our path to defence self-reliance
17 July | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Australian Financial Review on 17 July 2025 Australia should not sign a blank...
AUKUS: Building confidence in Australia’s submarine pathway
14 July 2025 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in Lowy's Interpreter on 14 July 2025 Image: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for...
Trump’s AUKUS review is routine, not a harbinger of collapse
13 June 2025 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 12 June 2025 Image: Deputy Prime Minister and...
To strengthen defence, Canberra and London must turn good will into actual capability
8 May 2025 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in Leading Britain's Conversation on 8 May 2025 Image: Defence Minister Richard Marles...
Why AUKUS remains the right strategy for the future defence of Australia
24 April 2025 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in The Conversation Image: United States Navy Virginia-class submarine USS...
Australia’s plan for acquiring nuclear-submarines is on track
2 April 2025 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Australian Financial Review on 2 April 2025 Rather than repeatedly...
Trump’s rocked the boat, but now’s not the time to bail on AUKUS
14 March 2025 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 14 March 2025 I mage: Virginia-class submarine USS...
Australia’s insurance policy: AUKUS Pillar I provides ‘bang for buck’
28 August 2024 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published with the United States Studies Centre on 28 August Breaking down the figures of...
There is no catastrophic failure of AUKUS Plan A
4 July 2024 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Australian Financial Review on Friday 5 July The “optimal pathway” may not run...
Response to Professor Hugh White's 'Fatal Shores: AUKUS is a grave mistake'*
*Published in Australian Foreign Affairs Issue 20 Feb 24 June 2024 | Jennifer Parker **Originally published in Australian Foreign Affairs...
Here are the facts about Australia’s nuclear submarine program
28 May | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Australian Financial Review on 28 May 2024 It is not an alliance of mutual...
No gift: Indo-Pacific access is worth its weight in gold
9 May 2024 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Council on Geostrategy's blog Britain's World Image: AUKUS Meeting - President...
One year along Australia’s optimal pathway to nuclear-powered submarines
March 13 2024 | Jennifer Parker Image: Department of Defence. Today marks 12 months since the release of the ‘optimal pathway’ Australia...
Putting meat on the bones: defence priorities at AUSMIN 2023
25 July 2023 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in The Strategist 25 July 2023. Link to original version. Image: Department of...