19 Dec 2023
Putin’s confidence heading into 2024
In the Russian leader’s world, friends are returning and with it the whiff of success.
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27 Nov 2023
Russia-North Korea: Closer, but not too close
Gushing portrayals of a revived relationship should be treated with caution. -
13 Nov 2023
1947 and now
Strife in the Middle East, hyper-partisans in the US Congress, and Russian troops on the march. We've been here before. -
8 Nov 2023
Ukraine’s energy fightback
Expert crews are risking their lives to keep the lights on amid Russia’s invasion – with help from far away, too. -
3 Nov 2023
Russia seeks benefit from the Gaza conflict
Moscow hopes the Middle East will distract the West from supporting Ukraine – but old troubles at home could stir again. -
2 Nov 2023
Ukraine: 2024 headwinds
A country already severely tested will face challenges in politics, maintaining global attention, and ensuring the necessities of war. -
26 Oct 2023
A Marshall Plan for Ukraine?
History can be a useful guide, but the geopolitical circumstances of today are vastly different. -
24 Oct 2023
The dual-use conundrum
Restrictions on technology with both a civilian and military application are too often worthless without better coordination. -
6 Oct 2023
Power of Siberia 2: Moving beyond a pipe dream?
Australia would be wise to diversify its gas exports now before Russia’s pivot to Asia takes hold. -
5 Oct 2023
Putin steps abroad, even as an international warrant hangs over his head
The Russian leader will use a regional summit in Kyrgyzstan in an attempt to show he's not isolated. -
2 Oct 2023
Ukraine counteroffensive makes gains but dark clouds loom in Washington
Successful attacks and talk of new missile systems shifts momentum in Kyiv’s favour provided that political support is sustained. -
25 Sep 2023
The historical roots of North Korea’s lucky break with Russia
Kim Jong-un can thank decisions taken by his grandfather decades ago for any weapons exports to Russia that may come about in the future. -
19 Sep 2023
No neutrality in espionage: Why is Malaysia tangled up in a spying case in Norway?
Asking the Kremlin would be a good start. -
15 Sep 2023
North Korea undeterred – to Putin’s pleasure
Kim Jong-un sent a message in his summit with Vladimir Putin, not only about military cooperation but also regime survival. -
11 Sep 2023
Ukraine has Moscow in its crosshairs but that shouldn’t make us squeamish
Don’t be fooled by Putin’s bluster. Giving Russia impunity by limiting destruction to Ukraine is no way to win the war. -
5 Sep 2023
Danger Will Robinson: Warfighting robots fast approaching
A swarm of angry Australian-made cardboard attack drones sets the scene for all future conflicts. -
1 Sep 2023
Can North Korea play off Russia against China?
Pyongyang might have designs to take advantage of an increasingly desperate Moscow, but power rests with Beijing. -
31 Aug 2023
Russia: The mafia as the state
Prigozhin’s death is only the latest example of an enigmatic fusion of formal governance and clandestine networks. -
30 Aug 2023
Europe’s last war
Remembering the Bosnian conflict of 30 years ago to compare how the world responds to Russia’s war on Ukraine today. -
25 Aug 2023
With Prigozhin gone, what next for the Wagner Group?
It’s a job few might want, but lacking a chief will make Russia's relations tricky in the countries where the group still operates. -
24 Aug 2023
Prigozhin is dead, but Putin is still weakened
It is important to remember that Putin personally and publicly gave the Wagner chief guarantees about his safety. -
17 Aug 2023
The Baltic response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
A history of atrocities at the hands of Moscow steels the resolve of its neighbouring states. -
14 Aug 2023
The Moon: The great game on new turf
India joins a powerplay with the United States, China and Russia in the hunt for lunar treasure and strategic superiority. -
10 Aug 2023
Fake news, propaganda, and the withering of commitment to truth
Joseph Stalin’s denial of access for Western journalists during the Second World War heralded the birth of disinformation. -
8 Aug 2023
Shadows of the state: How Wagner Group extends Russian reach in Africa
The mercenary operations sit at the heart of a complex web of geopolitical ambitions, covert operations, and influence peddling. -
3 Aug 2023
De-dollarisation: shifting power between the US and BRICS
Will a new global reserve currency threaten the greenback's supremacy? The short answer is yes. -
2 Aug 2023
Moscow, we have a problem
Once useful mouthpieces, Russian military bloggers reporting from the front lines in Ukraine are now making the Kremlin nervous. -
31 Jul 2023
“Solidarity with Russia”: North Korea cements an anti-US bloc
With friends like these, you can stand against the pressure of enemies. -
28 Jul 2023
Exploring an end game in Ukraine? Not yet
Moves towards negotiations are risky and could be interpreted by Putin as a sign of weakening Western resolve. -
25 Jul 2023
Cluster munitions: A necessary defensive strategy for Ukraine
It is Russia, not Ukraine, abusing international principles. The law must not obstruct Ukraine to fight back. -
21 Jul 2023
Who leads the world as longest in charge of their country?
Put together a list and you can start to see a pattern. -
19 Jul 2023
Why China tripled its heavy truck shipments to Central Asia: Unravelling the influence of Russia’s war in Ukraine
A sharp spike in overall exports to the region appears to provide Beijing a pathway to indirectly support the Kremlin’s war effort. -
19 Jul 2023
Why the Black Sea Grain Initiative must be restored
The collapse of a deal integral to world food security will imperil millions of lives. -
13 Jul 2023
Putin is Xi’s useful idiot
In the geopolitical tussle between superpowers, Russia pays the price and China reaps the benefits. -
12 Jul 2023
How long can Putin’s “special relationship” with Erdoğan last?
Despite mutterings about a Turkish “stab in the back”, Russia needs Türkiye – Putin’s reign may depend on it. -
11 Jul 2023
Beijing’s bad bet on Moscow
The collapse of the Putin regime is something China wants to avoid. A weak Kremlin is better than a headless one. -
3 Jul 2023
Unleashing chaos: Nova Kakhovka Dam destruction threatens global food security
The collapse of critical hydroelectric infrastructure will have devastating knock-on effects for Europe’s breadbasket. -
27 Jun 2023
Mongolia in the middle: China and Russia may split over the allure of renewables
With an abundance of solar and wind power, the landlocked East Asian country is set to impact Sino-Russian relations. -
26 Jun 2023
Australians stand with Ukraine – but attention won’t last indefinitely
The latest Lowy Poll should be a warning about the risk of not debating the end goal in a conflict. -
26 Jun 2023
Prigozhin’s mutiny: What does it mean for Putin – and Russia?
A bizarre and audacious rebellion by the Kremlin’s own hired mercenaries has irrevocably weakened the regime. -
24 Jun 2023
What does Wagner’s revolt mean for the future of Russia?
The most serious challenge to Putin’s authority yet – even if crushed – has already done significant harm to the elite structures of the Russian Federation. -
22 Jun 2023
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: Why and why now?
Putin’s desire to bring Ukraine back into the fold is mired in imperial nostalgia and bitter resentment. -
20 Jun 2023
Chemical weapons: Impunity is killing deterrence
Poisoning continues as a favoured form of invisible warfare meted out by dictators and autocrats, with horrific results. -
14 Jun 2023
Russia’s ally Kazakhstan turns eyes to the West
The Central Asian nation is hedging its bets with a foreign policy trifecta based on peace, balance and pragmatism. -
23 May 2023
It’s time Australia branded Russia’s Wagner Group a terrorist organisation
A record of abuses in conflicts from Ukraine to Africa makes designating the Russian group the right choice. -
22 May 2023
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is spurring a transition of global order
We’re only beginning to grasp the far-reaching ramifications from escalating tensions and economic disruptions caused by Moscow’s belligerence. -
15 May 2023
China to the rescue, with peace plans for Saudi, Iran, Russia, Ukraine and Afghanistan – up to a point
These diplomatic gambits all carry a message. But conflict resolution isn’t necessarily the main one. -
10 May 2023
Pakistan’s gamble with Russian oil
Any deal will be hindered by US sanctions, refining challenges, transportation costs, and payment concerns. -
21 Apr 2023
India still needs to work with Russia on Afghanistan
Proximity changes the priorities for India in a conflict on the doorstep. -
12 Apr 2023
What does China want in Ukraine?
Beijing has reservations about Putin’s war, but seeing Moscow take a beating is not in China’s interests.