When a delegation from the United States Studies Centre (USSC) travelled to Washington DC in 2023, AUKUS came up in every conversation and Australia eagerly awaited a visit from President Biden to Australia that didn’t eventuate. Now we are discussing potentially expanding AUKUS to include Japan and significant legislative reforms are making US-Australia defence collaboration stronger than ever. How much has changed in Washington from a year ago? Is the potential for JAUKUS making waves in DC...

The rules-based order is under stress in the Indo-Pacific and, according to the latest report from Freedom House, democracy has declined for an 18th consecutive year globally. Both Japan and Australia have strong commitments to development assistance in the region, but a new report from the United States Studies Centre (USSC) argues that this is not enough to counter elite capture, misinformation and other malign influences in the region. What are the stakes for democracy promotion in the...

With the two oldest presidential presumptive nominees in US history, the stakes for the vice presidential selection have never been higher. In 2016 Mike Pence helped deliver the evangelical vote for Trump, but he seems to be going a different direction in 2024. All eyes are on who he will ultimately choose. Will Trump look for a VP to help win swing states? Do any of his former presidential competitors stand a chance? How will Trump’s VP pick change the election? USSC Director of Research and...

One year ago, Anthony Albanese, Rishi Sunak and Joe Biden gathered at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego to share the ‘optimal pathway’ for Australia to acquire the nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS agreement. This critical step laid out the timeline, the type of submarines that would be acquired and the price tag of $268-$368b for AUKUS Pillar I. But we wanted to check in, one year after the optimal pathway was announced. How are we progressing? Was the pathway realistic? And what...

This is the third in a series of three episodes this week recorded following USSC’s Indo-Pacific Strategy Simulation in November 2023. In these recordings, leading regional experts sit down with our own resident scholars to discuss Indo-Pacific security issues, trilateral cooperation between Australia, Japan and the United States, and the finer points of designing and playing a strategic simulation.   This episode features Prof. Peter Dean, Director of the Foreign Policy and Defence Program...

This is the second in a series of three episodes this week recorded following USSC’s Indo-Pacific Strategy Simulation in November 2023. In these recordings, leading regional experts sit down with our own resident scholars to discuss Indo-Pacific security issues, trilateral cooperation between Australia, Japan and the United States, and the finer points of designing and playing a strategic simulation.   This episode features Prof. Peter Dean, Director of the Foreign Policy and Defence Program...

This week on the podcast, we’re bringing you the first three episodes in a series recorded following USSC’s Indo-Pacific Strategy Simulation in November 2023. In these recordings, leading regional experts sit down with our own resident scholars to discuss Indo-Pacific security issues, trilateral cooperation between Australia, Japan and the United States, and the finer points of designing and playing a strategic simulation.   This episode features Dr Michael Green, CEO of the USSC, in...

After a year of travel, conferences and meetings in the four Quad countries — Australia, India, Japan and the United States — four think tank experts from across the Indo-Pacific enter the USSC Briefing Room to discuss Quad cooperation.  What is the Quad trying to achieve? What is and isn’t working well and how can the four countries more closely and effectively cooperate on their shared vision for the region? In this ‘QuadPod’, Lucas Meyers, from the Wilson Center in the United States, Dr...

Last week, the special counsel Robert Hur released his report with findings of his investigation into President Biden’s handling of classified documents after he left the office of vice president. While a legal vindication in that he will not be charged, it has poured petrol on the fire that is discussion on Biden’s age and whether he’s up for a second term. We dove into this topic with Washington insider, United States Studies Centre Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe. How much of a risk...

Last month, world leaders gathered in Dubai for the UN Climate Change Conference – COP 28. The loss and damage agreement supporting nations impacted by climate change made headlines, but the walk back of language around fossil fuels was viewed by many as a step backwards. Was COP28 a net positive or negative? How relevant is COP anymore? Where should global efforts focus to mitigate climate change? United States Studies Centre (USSC) Non-Resident Fellow Lachlan Carey, Manager at RMI sat down...

The first contest of the 2024 US presidential election kicked off in Iowa this week. Dedicated Republicans turned out and voiced support for Donald Trump, delivering him the majority of votes with a 30-point margin over his competition. Ron DeSantis barely beat out Nikki Hayley for the number two spot, but Hayley was the only candidate to win a precinct other than Trump. Going into the next primaries, does anyone stand a chance against Trump? What would be the pathway to victory for a Trump...

Looking for something to read? In our ‘Book Talk’ series, our experts discuss their book projects and why you should read them. In this episode, Associate Professor David Smith talks through his research on religious persecution in the United States, the role of religion in politics, and ideas of political order, social cohesion and American identity.     Why does a country that sees religious freedom as central to its founding have such a painful history with religious persecution? How does...

Are you wondering what to read over the holiday period? In our ‘Book Talk’ series, our experts discuss their latest book projects and why you should read them. In this episode, USSC CEO Dr Michael J. Green sheds light on the evolution of Japan’s grand strategy.  How is Abe’s strategic approach to the Indo-Pacific reflected in Japan, Australia and the United States today? What lessons can be learned from Abe’s approach to China and the Trump administration? Why is the relationship between...

Taiwan does not have formal diplomatic relations with Australia and the United States, but they do have diplomatic representatives in both countries and formal or informal ties all over the world. Taiwan’s representative to Australia Douglas Hsu sat down with Research Director Jared Mondschein to discuss the state of play in Taiwan on the precipice of their upcoming presidential election. What challenges does not having formal diplomatic ties to Australia and the United states bring? Is...

Since the US withdrawal from TPP in 2017, Australia has remained keen to see the United States re-engage Asia on trade. The Biden administration launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) in May of 2022 to balance economic engagement in the region with a “foreign policy for the middle class” approach that prioritised increasing labor and environmental standards. Some early harvest provisions were announced at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit last month,...

This is the final episode in a series of four panel discussions recorded from the United States Studies Centre’s inaugural Sydney International Strategy Forum. This episode is the “AUKUS, the Quad and the future of alliances and partnerships” panel featuring: Prof. Peter Dean – Director of Foreign Policy and Defence, United States Studies Centre Zack Cooper – Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute Rep. Akihisa Nagashima – a member of the Japanese House of Representatives Dr Gorana...

This is the third in a series of four panel discussions recorded from the United States Studies Centre’s inaugural Sydney International Strategy Forum. This episode is the “Navigating de-risking, disruption and emerging technology” panel featuring: Michaela Browning, Vice President Government and Public Policy for Asia Pacific – Google   Dr John Kunkel, Senior Economic Adviser – United States Studies Centre   Hayley Channer, Director Economic Security – United States Studies...

This is the second in a series of four panel discussions recorded from the United States Studies Centre’s inaugural Sydney International Strategy Forum. This episode is the “US politics at the crossroads” panel featuring: §  Ryan Lizza, Chief Washington Correspondent – Politico   §  Olivia Nuzzi, Washington Correspondent – New York Magazine   §  Associate Professor David Smith, Professor in American Politics & Foreign Policy – United States Studies Centre   §  Bruce Wolpe, Non-Resident...

This week on the podcast, we’re bringing you a special series of recordings from the United States Studies Centre’s inaugural Sydney International Strategy Forum. These will each share one of the four panel discussions from the day. This episode is the “How far will US-China confrontation go?” panel featuring: Michele Flournoy – Co-Founder of West Exec Advisors and former US Under Secretary of Defence Admiral Phil Davidson – Former commander of US Indo-Pacific Command Dr Evan Medeiros,...

We are one year out from the 2024 US presidential election. If we ignore the actuarial possibilities or something that completely derails the polling reports we’re seeing, it will be a 2020 repeat of Trump v. Biden. But what are they like behind the scenes? Do their public personas match their private personas? How does this impact their 2024 campaigns?   To discuss this, we interviewed Chief Washington Correspondent for Politico Ryan Lizza and Washington Correspondent for New York Magazine...

This week, co-hosts Director of Research Jared Mondschein and Research Editor Victoria Cooper discuss their latest polling report, One year from the 2024 US presidential election: The stakes for Australia and the alliance which surveyed respondents in Australia, the United States and Japan. It covers all the issues most relevant to the Australia-US alliance and regional relationships at this time.   Are attitudes towards China heating up or cooling down? Where is public opinion at on AUKUS at...

This month has been incredibly tumultuous in US politics. We had the historic ousting of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, courtroom drama in the cases against former president Trump and war breaking out in Israel. Republican disunity appears to be near breaking point. To help make sense of the fast-moving dynamics, Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign Policy David Smith provides a breakdown of the latest and what to expect moving forward. What does the House speaker race reveal...

Next week, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is heading to the United States for an official visit with President Biden, including a state dinner. Two USSC experts have staffed state visits before, one on the US side and one on the Australian side – CEO Dr Michael Green and Senior Economic Adviser Dr John Kunkel. Their inside perspectives can give us a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes for these sort of high-profile visits. What’s at stake? What sort of role do...

AUKUS Pillar II is focused on accelerating advanced capabilities, but innovation in technology is dominated by tech companies and financed through private finance. In order advance this technology for defence new funding sources, collaboration and mindset shifts across government and industry is essential. Over 2023 USSC Director of Economic Security Hayley Channer and Senior Economic Advisor Dr John Kunkel hosted a series of workshops with leaders in defence innovation, tech companies and...

In this special episode, we share a recording of the panel discussion at the launch event for USSC’s new Women in the Alliance initiative. It featured Aurora Education Foundation CEO and American Australian Association Ltd in Australia Chair Leila Smith, Representative for Lindsay Melissa McIntosh MP and ABC journalist and broadcaster Geraldine Doogue in conversation with Research Editor Victoria Cooper. Women in the Alliance brings together a diverse group of female professionals for...