Friend of the podcast Rhoderick Miller is back on Strategikon and we find out what Rhoderick’s Hyper – Realist perspective has to say about the Russia / Ukraine conflict, 10 months after it began. John and David also offer their predictions on whether Putin or Zelenskyy will come out of the war in a better position, before discussing the chances of Germany being able to right it’s economy despite it’s energy dependency on Russia. Finally, with 2023 set to be characterized by food and energy insecurities, John, David and Rhoderick discuss how well the European Union and African states will be able to withstand the crises. This podcast is produced by Michael Migali for SAGE International Australia

In this episode of Strategikon, John speaks with intelligence analyst and former British Royal Navy Officer CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell OBE RN (RET’D), about the recent political and monarchical changes occurring within the UK. Patrick discusses how King Charles III has been settling in and whether the monarch should have skipped a generation, as well as the functional role which the Royal Family plays within UK and Commonwealth civics.   Lizz Truss has also taken over the conservative party leadership from Boris Johnson and has inherited some major strategic problems, including the war in Ukraine, growing inflation and a coming food crisis. Patrick gives his take on how PM Truss will tackle the problems facing the country, while also taking a broader look at the issues which many liberal democracies are currently having to contend with. This Podcast is Produced by Michael Migali for SAGE International Australia.

John is joined by the editor of Australian Foreign Affairs Magazine, Jonathan Pearlman, for a discussion about how Australia’s new Albanese government will approach foreign policy. They discuss the current status of The Quad, with a focus on India’s curious position within the group. How does the rising South Asian power’s tradition of non-alignment affect The Quad’s progress and furthermore, could India’s poor human rights record affect the group’s cohesion? Jonathan also explains how Australia’s historically rigid approach to foreign policy and diplomacy, must become more adaptable amid the shifting power dynamics within the Asia-Pacific region.

In this episode of Strategikon, John and David break down a recent book from geopolitical analyst Peter Zeihan, called The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the end of globalization. Zeihan predicts the unraveling of globalization as we currently know it, to a world where states / regions will have to secure their own access to food, energy and security whilst simultaneously managing climate change and aging populations. After analyzing the validity of Zeihan’s thesis, John and David map out what this dark reality means for Australia’s future and how key regional relationships will play a major role in helping our region evade catastrophe.

*This podcast was recorded prior to Ukraine vacating from Luhansk* John and David are joined once again by friend of the podcast Rhoderick Miller, who offers an update on the Russia/Ukraine war through the lens of his contrarian, hyper-realist perspective. They discuss why the Western European allies seem to have pulled back their supply of weapons to Ukraine, as well as how the military equipment supplied by the United States might match up against Russia’s on their home turf. Additionally, how is Russia managing being involved in operations across the globe, including locations as far away as Central and South America, while being involved in a major conflict? Finally, what are the prospects for food and energy shortages returning to normal levels in the near future? This Podcast is Produced by Michael Migali for SAGE International Australia.

In light of the recent meeting of 'The Quad' nations India, Japan, US and Australia, we are joined by Emeritus Professor Purnendra Jain, from the Department of Asian Studies at the University of Adelaide, who offers a timely analysis regarding India's delicate tightrope walk in keeping ongoing Russia and US relations from cancelling eachother out. Professor Jain delves into the nature of Indian foreign policy and their long standing relationship with Russia, as well as how the relationship adds to the complexity of alliance formation in the Indo - Pacific regarding the Taiwan issue.

Rhoderick Miller is back. This time, Rhoderick offers his Hyper-Realist perspective on how China has responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and whether the conflict could inspire a People’s Liberation Army invasion of Taiwan. Is it the right time for China to realize their decades-long ambition of claiming Taiwan, or is China facing too much internal insecurity to concern itself with large-scale invasion? Furthermore, why has Australia’s response to the growing insecurity in the Indo-Pacific region been so inadequate, and what should Canberra be doing instead? This Podcast is Produced by Michael Migali for SAGE International Australia. Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information  

Rhoderick Miller, an old friend of John and David, joins the podcast to break down the escalating war in Ukraine. Rhoderick offers a unique and contrarian analysis of what exactly is happening on the ground and what outcomes we can expect in the coming weeks. Mainstream media narratives are depicting a surprisingly robust Ukrainian fighting force, making life unexpectedly difficult for the Russians. Additionally, the Western world have hit Russia with "crippling" sanctions and widespread corporate boycotting, making it seem like Putin's war has severely backfired. Are the current media narratives a fairly accurate reflection of reality? Or is Russia’s war machine actually in a much stronger position than it seems?  This Podcast is Produced by Michael Migali for Co-host David Olney, and John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia. Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.  

Since the surprise Capture of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and Russia’s active support of pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine, Ukraine has gone from relative obscurity to front-page news. The simmering Russian backed war in Eastern Ukraine, which began in 2014, catapulted to international infamy when in July 2014, Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Eastern Ukraine by pro-Russian separatists operating a Russian-made book surface-to-air missile system, killing all 298 passengers and crew. Since then, the war in the east has cost 14,000 lives with no end in sight. Late last year, Russia mobilized 100,000 troops at the Ukrainian border, this action as well as bellicose language from the Russian President regarding NATO pressing up against Russia's border has many speculating that a Russian war against Ukraine could start in the first part of 2022. So, as we are in the first part of the 2022, are we on the precipice of the first major European war since the collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and if so, what can we do to avoid it? This Podcast is Produced by Michael Migali for Co-host David Olney, and John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia. Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mexico is often linked in the public mind to two major issues - the global narcotics trade and illegal immigration into the United States. Of course, both are true, but there is also much more to modern Mexico. Join John, David, and Tim as they discuss Mexico, its multiple complexities, and challenges with returning guest Dr. R Evan Ellis, Research Professor of Latin American Studies, US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute.   This Podcast is Produced by Tim Whiffen of Whimsy Productions for Co-host David Olney, and John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia.

Ethiopia entered a new age in 2018 with the election of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. No longer run by the former Tigray dominated Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), Abiy Ahmed ushered in a change to Ethiopia’s ethno-federalist structure and in doing so replaced the privileged minority Tigrayans with a new political elite consisting of the majority Oromo and Amharic peoples. In doing so, this move unleashed resentment among the former Tigrayan elite of Ethiopia which possibly lies at the heart of what seems to be a growing civil war between the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and Addis Ababa. Join John as he discusses Ethiopia and its ethnic complexities and challenges with the Director of the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), Dr. Yonas Adaye Adeto. For more information on this from both sides of the story please watch - the BBC's Hard Talk: https://www.youtube.com/embed/ncW2V_Y4jMw https://www.youtube.com/embed/JtmXRE5kepk This Podcast is Produced by Tim Whiffen of Whimsy Productions for Co-host David Olney, and John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia.

With the COVID-19 Pandemic raging its way continually through countries, savaging populations of India and South Africa, the question still on everyone's lips is "who's to blame"? With some rallying for independent investigations what seems to be apparent is that while the virus was released by accident, the following actions and containment were not handled well, and certainly there has been some opportunism by parties to gain strategic footholds during a delicate time. Joining us to discuss these pertinent issues is the Human Rights Law Professor at the University of Canberra, Sascha-Dominik Dov Bachmann. This Podcast is Produced by Tim Whiffen of Whimsy Productions for Co-host David Olney, and John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia.

Multi-lateral frameworks have been unravelling slowly, and the dream of a unified globe along with it. With President Trump bringing multi-laterals into the limelight as a common enemy of the working people. many global powers are having to find their way in a new global era where there is much more potential. To discuss these pertinent ideas, John and David are joined by Nicholas Michelon, a 20-year veteran of Asia-Pacific business, finance & economics research. Nicolas is the founder of Asia Intelligence Advisory, an economic & strategic intelligence consulting firm based in Paris. This Podcast is Produced by Tim Whiffen of Whimsy Productions for John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia.

Since the recording of this podcast with Yossi Mekelberg, the Israelis and Palestinians are at it again with Hamas launching rockets at Tel Aviv and towards Israel's Dimona nuclear facility. While the Hamas rocket barrage has yet again failed to reach its targets, this Hamas attack has shown increasing capability and improvements in the organisation’s ability to strike deeper into Israel than before. Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system, while having destroyed most incoming Hamas rockets, was not foolproof in its defence leading to some questioning whether Iron Dome has reached its technological limits. Credit to BBC for the introductory news update. Professor Yossi Mekelberg joins John and David to discuss the nitty-gritty of Israel's current tensions, putting into perspective recent and ancient history, as well as predicting some of the actions Benjamin Netanyahu could or should take next. This Podcast is Produced by Tim Whiffen of Whimsy Productions for John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia.

The CCP's assertiveness in the South China sea poses threats across all of South East Asia, but the Philippines is subject to extensive security threats. With no compromise or help in sight, what challenges does the Philippino political elite face to turn the tides in their favour? While it appears that Washington has all but forgotten the Philippines, how can regional players approach this regime in Manila? To answer some of these questions and provide insight from the ground, John and David speak with Dr. Chester Cabalza of the International Development & Security Cooperation (IDSC). This Podcast is Produced by Tim Whiffen of Whimsy Productions for John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia.

In this episode of STRATEGIKON, John, David, and special guest, Adelaide-based independent defense analyst Raspal Khosa, reflect on the "middle east" and the US operations throughout the region. With speculation of President Biden ending operations in Afghanistan throughout the media and the deadline to decide on May 1st, the Taliban has renewed relevance. President Biden has already shown his intentions throughout his vice presidency and the stakes are high for leaving. Luckily, Raspal is able to help David and John break down the political complications, explain the history of international influence and oocupation, and make educated guesses at what will happen next.

In this episode of STRATEGIKON, John, David and Tim are inquiring into the intricacies of President Trump's second impeachment after he has left office, and the tides left in the Republican Party in 2021. Joining us from the United States to discuss these issues is Dr. Imad Harb, SIA’s Senior Non-Resident Fellow Greater Middle East & Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC.

In this episode of STRATEGIKON, we examine Britain one year after the decision to leave the European Union, and at the end of the time in which they could make a deal with the EU. Of course, we could not ignore the strategic goings-on in America and China with this discussion, so we also consider the UK and the EU in the context of the world economic and strategic orders. Our virtual studio is hosted by John Bruni, Co-Hosted by David Olney, and joined by our regular guest CDRE Pat Tyrrell from Cornwall in the United Kingdom. Producer Tim Whiffen was only able to make the discussion in spirit, so John recorded this one. Well done John!

John, David and Tim are joined by Ambassador of Colombia to Australia, H.E. Alberto José Mejia Ferrero & Prof. R. Evan Ellis, US Army War College, to discuss the complications Colombia faces with the Venezuela crises. This region is of utmost significance to Australia as our interests shift from rising tensions with the Chinese Communist Party. With the Colombian embassy being closed in Venezuela and the Venezuelan refugee crisis at its peak, it is imperative for Australian's to watch with a keen eye for how assistance can be offered to strengthen important South American relations. Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays from all of us here at STRATEGIKON, may 2021 bring along new challenges for sure, but also the wisdom carried through from 2020.

  John, David & Emeritus Professor Purnendra Jain discuss SIA's report on the power dynamics of the Indo-Pacific & its recommendations. In this welcome back to the STRATEGIKON podcast, the discussion revolved around what has been keeping these intellectuals so busy! We are looking forward to creating more podcasts for you as the ever-changing world develops new and interesting dynamics. In this past year, Sage International Australia has produced a report titled; "The Strategic Implication of Changing Dynamics & Regional Partnerships on Major Power Competition in Indo-Pacific" authored by Dr John Bruni, David James Olney, Prof. Purnendra C. Jain, Dr Jonathan Z. Ludwig, & CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell OBE RN (Ret'd).

In this episode of STRATEGIKON, we examine the ongoings in Belarus and the likely fate of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Also up for discussion, changes to European security caused by the recent decision of President Trump to relocate US forces from Germany to Poland. And finally, Europe’s southeast in the Eastern Mediterranean, tensions rise between NATO members and long-time regional rivals Turkey and Greece, making Europe a fascinating hot topic at the moment. Our virtual studio is hosted by John Bruni, Co-Hosted by David Olney, and joined by our regular guest CDRE Pat Tyrrell from Cornwall in the United Kingdom. Producer Tim Whiffen was unable to make the discussion so John recorded this one. Well done John! This week's musical interlude comes courtesy of Lucas Day, check them out on Facebook, Spotify and Apple Music.

It is a scary world out there in the cyber-universe, and while we have covered many of the public sector concerns from a political level, what are the threats facing every Australian from citizens to business owners? Cynch Security is a cybersecurity service for small business, and are at the forefront of the cyber-fitness, or indeed, lack thereof in the Australian community. Joining John, David, and Tim on STRATEGIKON to discuss the practical and real circumstances facing every Australian at the cyber front is Susie and Tim of Cynch Security. Susie, the CEO of Cynch, and Adam, the Chief Technological Officer, are leading experts in the field of cybersecurity with years in experience with a variety of public and private entities of diverse size. This episode of STRATEGIKON makes it abundantly clear just how at risk we are, and yet, provides some pragmatic discourse toward a more secure future in the virtual spaces we create. Learn more about Cynch Security, their work in communicating the importance of these issues, and their services here.

Part 2 of a two-part discussion: On June 19th Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia announced that many public services were experiencing a hack from a 'state player' without giving any details as to who it may have been behind the attack. With many commentators speculating that China may be behind the attack and with their history of these tactics of information gathering it is a very real example of the new state of play for international security. Between the anti-Chinese sentiment in the public Australian sphere, and the hesitance for the Australian Government to decouple their dependence from China there is a lot to consider. Joining the STRATEGIKON team are a few faces the audience will be familiar with in discussing some answers to many questions the public will have for these attacks. One thing is for certain, we need a change of language to discuss these ideas to avoid conflating cyber with kinetic warfare. This double episode features Pete Warren Editor of Future Intelligence and Chair of the Cyber Security Research Institute; CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell OBE RN (Ret’d) SIA Senior Non-resident Fellow Global and Maritime Security & Prof. Andrew Jones, Visiting Professor of Cyber Security, University of Suffolk.

Part 1 of a two part discussion: On June 19th Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia announced that many public services were experiencing a hack from a 'state player' without giving any details as to who it may have been behind the attack. With many commentators speculating that China may be behind the attack and with their history of these tactics of information gathering it is a very real example of the new state of play for international security. Between the anti-Chinese sentiment in the public Australian sphere, and the hesitance for the Australian Government to decouple their dependence from China there is a lot to consider. Joining the STRATEGIKON team are a few faces the audience will be familiar with in discussing some answers to many questions the public will have for these attacks. One thing is for certain, we need a change of language to discuss these ideas to avoid conflating cyber with kinetic warfare. This double episode features Pete Warren Editor of Future Intelligence and Chair of the Cyber Security Research Institute; CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell OBE RN (Ret’d) SIA Senior Non-resident Fellow Global and Maritime Security & Prof. Andrew Jones, Visiting Professor of Cyber Security, University of Suffolk.

Whether you're opposed to phrases like the 'new normal', or you're optimistic about how the world will look after COVID-19, the world is going to be very different, at least for a while. Of particular interest is the shifting in tensions in the strategy and international relations world, which has been affected perhaps more than any other academic field as borders are closed and blame is thrown for lives and investments lost. Though COVID-19 is getting mainstream attention in almost every conceivable way, the international community is in need of more attention. In this episode of STRATEGIKON, we’ll be trying something a little risky technologically, we have guests from the United Kingdom, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Canberra, and we're still recording from Adelaide, Australia. We have experts in European International Relations and security, Australian security, the Horn of Africa, Ethiopian politics. and a former Australian Army Special Forces Brigadier. So, we’ll have quite a bit of security heft on hand to tackle today’s topic which is – COVID19’s transformation of the international security order. Joining us will be David Khandan; Austability Executive Director Strategy & Relationships, Sandy Wade; Austability Regional Strategic Advisor Horn of Africa, Don Randall Ambassador at Austability & Brigadier Mark Smethurst DSC, AM (Retd) Austability Strategy Advisor Asia Pacific Region.

The international price of oil is now in negative territory and having an immensurate impact on the world, but especially in the Middle East where oil is the foundation of many sovereign states. The duel economic blows of the COVID-19 crisis and the oil price wars are forcibly dragging Gulf states backward, particularly affecting the burgeoning middle classes. If these issues are not dealt with adequately, questions could be raised about the capability of several authoritarian states in the region and force further unrest in an already tense area of the world. Joining us from the United States to discuss these issues is Dr. Imad Harb, SIA’s Senior Non-Resident Fellow Greater Middle East & Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC. Imad makes reference to this article about the Arab social upheaval.

In this episode, John, David and Tim are joined by Senator Jim Molan AO DSC. Jim is a former Australian Army Major-General and is now a high profile Senator for the Liberal-National Coalition known for his public interest in Australia’s strategic policy. We begin this episode by asking Jim about his military experience and his opinions on some of the pressing issues facing Australia in the near-term.

While the COVID-19 Pandemic is ravaging the economies and societies of nations worldwide, Asia seems to have a large diversity of responses and impacts. What cultural and political settings have changed how the pandemic his hit each country, and how will this impact the region more broadly into the future. This is the first episode of two that examines a few key players in the Asian region to understand what factors change the social, economic, and diplomatic, consequences such a crisis can have. To help explain these issues Prof. Purnendra Jain, a member of the SIA Advisory Board and SIA's Head of Research & Academic Development, joins us in via Zoom to tackle Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, and North Korea in the second half of the conversation. This week's music comes courtesy of Leaf and Stem, check them out on Facebook, Spotify, and iTunes.

While the COVID-19 Pandemic is ravaging the economies and societies of nations worldwide, Asia seems to have a large diversity of responses and impacts. What cultural and political settings have changed how the pandemic his hit each country, and how will this impact the region more broadly into the future. This is the first episode of two that examines a few key players in the Asian region to understand what factors change the social, economic, and diplomatic, consequences such a crisis can have. To help explain these issues Prof. Purnendra Jain, a member of the SIA Advisory Board and SIA's Head of Research & Academic Development, joins us in via Zoom to tackle China, Taiwan, and India in the first half of the conversation. This week's Local Music thanks to SODA with "Slow March" Check them out at Spotify & Facebook.

What are the minimum essential skills, technology, manufacturing, real resources and infrastructure within any country to enable them to sufficiently survive global pandemic or equivalent crises? On today’s episode, John and David co-isolate before the restrictions would have disallowed to discuss the missing part of public discourse on COVID-19 - Sovereign capability. Australia is particularly exposed to dependency on trade with other countries who provide many of these capabilities and this has caused a shockwave of realisation in the political sphere. What lessons are to be learned from this global pandemic and will we do anything to learn from them? These are the questions missing from mainstream media dialogue and John and David seek to answer them with a particular focus on economics and strategy.  This episode's musical interlude: Hartway with "Better". Support them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify.

The Idlib balance of power is threatened as the last rebellion holdout in Syria by threatened by conflicting and complex interests. There is a current cease-fire, but as the "Battle for Idlib" is the last stand against the Syrian regime's sovereignty, it seems only a matter of time until violence breaks out once again. This an extraordinary Civil war which has attracted the strategic and tactical interests of Iran, Turkey, and Russia, bringing the conflict to the attention of NATO and other European multilateral alliances. With so much tension spread so far wide, the question really is, when will the cease-fire collapse. and who stands to benefit from what outcomes may eventuate? To discuss these issues, we’ll be joined today by SAGE International Australia’s Dr. Imad Harb. Dr Harb is the Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC. He is also Senior Non-Resident Fellow Greater Middle East for SAGE International Australia (SIA) as well as Member of the SIA Advisory Board. Dr Harb often commentates on Middle Eastern issues for the US and international media. Please direct any feedback you may have to the SIA website, we look forward to hearing from you!

This episode is a conversation with Dr. John Bruni, David Olney, and Tim Whiffen concerning John and David's latest trip to Canberra. The report John and David must produce for the DoD has lead to many meetings with large and small states who either give or receive foreign aid. The implications from the different perspectives on aid gives a fairly dire diagnosis of the Australian approach to soft power. These observations include some ideas that for the sake of Chatham House Rules cannot be attributed to specific persons and the ensuing discussion considers the ideas and not necessarily those who hold them.

This episode is a conversation with Prof. Purnendra Jain, a member of the SIA Advisory Board and SIA's Head of Research & Academic Development about his research trip to India. The report John and David must produce for the DoD is in collaboration with Purnendra and his trip included meeting with staff from the Institue for Defense Studies and Analysis, an Indian Think Tank, and attendance at the Raisina Dialogue. These observations include some ideas that for the sake of Chatham House Rules cannot be attributed to specific persons and the ensuing discussion considers the ideas and not necessarily those who hold them. This episode's musical interlude: Mum Thinks Blue with Gotten Away. Support them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify.

Boris Johnson has won a landslide election proving the British people want Brexit and want a hardline, perhaps conservative approach to the deals yet to be made. Boris has many decisions to make and a lot of Britains future is uncertain with new alliances and old tensions brewing in the liberation of British people from the political and economic bureaucracy of the European Union. To talk to us about this, in a general discussion, is Commodore Pat Tyrrell OBE RN (Retd), Pat is Chair of the SIA Advisory Board, Senior Non-Resident Fellow Global & Maritime Security.CDRE Tyrrell is Director of Vale Atlantic Associates which specializes in the provision of high-level, strategic consultancy in several fields including cyber warfare, security, intelligence analysis as well as current research in technologies applicable to defence and the intelligence world. He holds the Order of the British Empire, a Master of Arts degree in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Laws. This week's music comes courtesy of Flat Moon Society, check them out on Facebook, Spotify, and iTunes.

Qasem Soleimani was brazenly assassinated by the Trump administration on January 3rd, 2020. Iran responded with missile strikes on military bases in Iraq with no American casualties. Australia and the UK are wondering what its future is in Iraq and what will happen next.  To talk to us about this, in a general discussion, is Commodore Pat Tyrrell OBE RN (Retd), Pat is Chair of the SIA Advisory Board, Senior Non-Resident Fellow Global & Maritime Security.CDRE Tyrrell is Director of Vale Atlantic Associates which specializes in the provision of high-level, strategic consultancy in several fields including cyber warfare, security, intelligence analysis as well as current research in technologies applicable to defence and the intelligence world. He holds the Order of the British Empire, a Master of Arts degree in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Laws. This week's music comes courtesy of Big Uncle Love Bus, check them out on Facebook, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Rex Patrick is a Senator for South Australia representing the Centre Alliance Party who joined John, David and Tim in the STRATEGIKON studio to answer some questions pertinent to the future of Australia's security and flourishing.   The Centre Alliance Party's Website: https://centrealliance.org.au/

Rushan Abbas is a well known Uyghur activist who graced the STRATEGIKON studio with her presence to tell John and David more about her experiences of persecution and what the rest of the world could and should be doing.   Rushan Abbas’s Campaign for Uyghurs site at: https://campaignforuyghurs.org/ The US Congress recently passed new sanctions on China for its treatment of Uyghurs. More information on this can be found by following this link:  https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/12/03/politics/us-xinjiang-bill-trump-intl-hnk/index.html

This episode is a conversation about SIA's research trip to Canberra. In an aim to talk about the interesting ideas at the ambassadorial/HC level meetings we had, this discussion maintains Chatham house rules: We talk about the ideas but not where the ideas have come from. The report John and David must produce with collaborators is being done on behalf of the Defense, as such this podcast presents learnings about small and medium states defence spending and priorities. This week's music comes courtesy of Big Uncle Love Bus, check them out on Facebook, Spotify, and Apple Music.

John Bruni, CEO of SAGE International Australia, recently went on a trip and found himself in Dubai, wherein an interesting conversation was had with David Khandan. Tim, John and David interview David Khandan, Executive Director of Austability to recreate the magic of that conversation. In this episode, we look at the Australian Government and diagnose some problems with the short elected terms and prescribe some new approaches to a range of issues for long term strategy. This week's music comes courtesy of Leaf and Stem, check them out on Facebook, Spotify and iTunes.

Iran has been placed in a very difficult bind by the US and other countries with extreme economic interest in Iranian Oil. The US has put blame for the recent attack on oil tankers off the Gulf of Oman on Iran, further sparking tensions in the area. Iran's fringe political groups are pushing back against the US administration in a big way since the dispute and the reality of an Iranian attack against the US is becoming serious. There are desires to remove the Iranian regime throughout the region and from many countries in the west. But what is the best approach to keep the peace after years, centuries, of subjegation of the iranians. To talk to us about this, in a general discussion, is Commodore Pat Tyrrell OBE RN (Retd), Pat is Chair of the SIA Advisory Board, Senior Non Resident Fellow Global & Maritime Security.CDRE Tyrrell is Director of Vale Atlantic Associates which specializes in the provision of high-level, strategic consultancy in several fields including cyber warfare, security, intelligence analysis as well as current research in technologies applicable to defence and the intelligence world. He holds the Order of the British Empire, a Master of Arts degree in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Laws.

In this episode of STRATEGIKON, David and Tim take listeners along to talk to some speakers from a recent event put on by Professor Purnendra Jain of The University of Adelaide and member of SIA Advisory Board. To discuss the Japanese Economy, Australia-Japan Relations, and Japan’s Politics and Foreign Policy, David interviews three academics from The Australian National University: Dr Ben Ascione is a research scholar at the Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU. He is Japan and Korea editor at East Asia Forum and a research associate at the Japan Center for International Exchange in Tokyo. Dr Lauren Richardson is the Director of Studies and a Lecturer at the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy. Previously she taught Northeast Asian Relations at the University of Edinburgh and Keio University. Her research focuses on the role of non-state actors in shaping diplomatic interactions in Northeast Asia. Dr Richardson holds Master’s degrees in Asian Studies (Monash University) and Political Science (Keio University), and a PhD in International Relations from ANU. She has been a visiting fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs and Keio University, a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Australia-Asia Award (2011), and a participant in the US-Korea NextGen Scholars Program (2015-16). Professor Peter Drysdale AO is Emeritus Professor of Economics and Head of the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research and East Asia Forum at the Crawford School of Public Policy. His research interests include Asia Pacific economic integration, international trade and foreign direct investment, Japanese economic policy, and the East Asian economic transformation. Previously, Peter was Professor of Economics and founding Executive Director of the Australia-Japan Research Centre at the Crawford School. He is widely recognised as one of the leading architects of APEC, and is the author of several books on economic policy in the Asia Pacific, including the prize-winning International Economic Pluralism: Economic Policy in East Asia and the Pacific. Peter received his PhD in Economics from ANU.

A lot has been said of the state of American global power. But in the US itself there is little appetite among the people to be on a constant state of military vigilance and arguably the Trump win in 2016 played to a sense of national public war weariness.  This is a time of confrontation with Iran in the Gulf, Kim Jong Un in North Korea, and most worrying of all, a rising China. Chinese power is increasingly seen to be pushing US power from the Western Pacific.  To plumb the depths of American power in the Pacific today, we are honoured to be joined by Lt. General Jerry Martinez, US Air Force (Ret.). Also in the Studio are John Bruni and David Olney. This weeks music comes courtesy of Flat Moon Society, check them out on Facebook, Spotify and iTunes.

The European Parliament’s creation, national ambitions, identities and interests have had an imperfect execution throughout its history. The last elections demonstrated that nationalism is making a come-back in a significant way. British 'nationalists' won the Brexit debate hugely, Northern Italian ‘nationalists’ won in Italy signalling a divided Italy may be in its future. Though there were some notable defeats for nationalist parties, overall they are a growing, permanent presence in the European political space. Upon scanning recent geopolitical articles on social media, Dr. John Bruni came across a piece written by a colleague and part-time contributor to SAGE International Australia, Prof. Dr. Julian Lindley-French.  To discuss these issues, we’ll be joined today by Prof. Lindley-French. Julian is Vice-President Atlantic Treaty Association, Senior Fellow of the Institute of Statecraft, Director of Europa Analytica & Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow, National Defense University, Washington DC. Please direct any feedback you may have to the SIA website, we look forward to hearing from you! This episode's feature artist is Hartway, with their track Dreaming. Find them on Facebook, iTunes and Spotify.

Abiy Ahmed  election as Ethiopia’s Prime Minister in April 2018 was welcomed as good news around the world. Ethiopia is critical to the Horn of Africa, and since the end of its sixteen year long civil war, the victory of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, rapidly stabilised the state. Abiy Ahmed promised to enact reforms that would fully modernise and liberalise Ethiopia but his attempts have come unstuck. Critics claim that Abiy’s reform process is too fast, and that it is threatening to leave large parts of the population behind. On June 23 of 2018, Abiy was the target of an assassination attempt killing 2 people and injuring around 165 in Meskel Square, fortunately Abiy was unharmed. Then a coup attempt staged by Brig. Gen. Asaminew Tsige with the destabilising assassination of three senior officials of Amhara state. Can Abiy survive his reform process? Today we are joined by Sandy Wade OBE JP. Sandy is Associate Director Horn of Africa at Africa Advisory Partners Limited and Horn of Africa Regional Strategic Advisor with Austability and Associate Director with Strategia Worldwide. He’s had and continues to have extensive experience in Ethiopia and Horn of Africa affairs. Please subscribe to STRATEGIKON through your favourite podcatcher and like us on the SAGE International Australia Facebook site and follow us on Twitter. We appreciate your support! Also, please comment on any of our articles and podcasts through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and of course on the SAGE International Australia site, we welcome any constructive feedback that can help improve our products and we look forward to engaging with our followers.

The 2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition bill has incited protests and political unrest in Hong Kong and Taiwan, evoking emotions across the globe. The protests are demanding a withdrawal of the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation Bill 2019 proposed by the Government of Hong Kong. Though Hong Kong has extradition deals with other countries, it does not extradite citizens to mainland China, into the jurisdiction of the Chinese Communist Party. The "One Country, Two Systems" agreement between HK and the Mainland is threatened by these laws, but this is not the first time there have been proposals to blur the lines between the two states. To discuss the significance of these protests, we are joined by Professor Delia Lin, a Senior, Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the Asia Institute, University of Melbourne. Delia is a multi-disciplinary educator, her expertise range from engineering, to a  PhD in Humanities from Griffith University, Australia. Her research in linguistics, sociology, and political science has all been rooted in chinese culture, giving her excellent scope for this discussion.

What does the future of war look like? Do we expect armies of robots, lazer guns, and multi terrain transforming jet fighters? What about the strategic elements of future war, how will major powers react to the technical advances in weaponry and surveillance? This is a fun thought experiment, but there is a deeper consideration, in delving into the current trajectory of defence for many world players a question arises, what happens when we run out of the complex systems, resources, and weapons we are investing in? Dr. John Bruni and David Olney discuss this in depth, and give warning to industry and political leaders to consider the practical implications of their technological defence endeavours. This episode's musical break is courtesy of Leaf and Stem, with their song "Always Yours" Check them out on Spotify!

We’ll start off with a quote from our friends at Wikipedia: "Truthiness is the belief or assertion that a particular statement is true based on the intuition or perceptions of some individual or individuals, without regard to evidence, logic, intellectual examination, or facts." Today we are joined by Dr Sharon Mascall-Dare, Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of South Australia and by multi-award-winning journalist Peter Warren, to answer some big questions: Do our audiences fact check, or is there not enough time? Can the reporters cut through the guff? In today’s age where reporting the news is now in the hands of fewer and fewer media mega corporations, how do we get to the truth of the matter? This episode's musical interlude: Mum Thinks Blue with Gotten Away Support them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify.

The Indian 2019 national election is upon us. Prime Minister Nanendra Modi has guided India as Prime Minister since his first electoral victory back in 2014. To discuss how Modi and the BJP are affecting the Indian polity, society and strategy, we speak to Prof. Purnendra Jain, member of the SIA Advisory Board, and Dr. Stuti Bhatnagar, formerly with the University of Adelaide and regular contributor to the Lowy Institute on Indian affairs. Please comment on any of our articles and podcasts through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and of course on the SAGE International Australia site. We welcome any constructive feedback that can help improve our products and we look forward to engaging with our followers. This week's Local Music thanks to SODA with "Silent Minds" Check them out at Spotify & Facebook. They're playing at The Lion Arts Factory on the 30th of May.

Yemen is a benighted country just south/southwest of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi monarchy has overseen a 2004 Shiite uprising, and directly connected to its existential foe in the Middle East – Iran. The Saudi monarchy pointed its accusatory finger at Iran for stirring up unrest in Yemen, a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Saudis, fearing that the Houthi contagion might spread to its own significant Shiite population, decided to enter the fray in 2015 and snuff out this rebellion. But the international community has on the whole been quiet on the war in Yemen.  To discuss these issues, we’ll be joined today by SAGE International Australia’s Dr. Imad Harb. Dr Harb is Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC. He is also Senior Non Resident Fellow Greater Middle East for SAGE International Australia (SIA) as well as Member of the SIA Advisory Board. Dr Harb often commentates on Middle Eastern issues for the US and international media. Please direct any feedback you may have to the SIA website, we look forward to hearing from you! This episode's feature artist is Hartway, with their track Beyond. Find them on Facebook, iTunes and Spotify.

It is said that technology of cyberspace is the new battleground, but what is cyber? For all intents and purposes cyberspace is an invisible force our personal devices are all plugged into it. We use the cyberspace to perform tasks in all areas of life and in all industries. There is not a thing that is untouched through this medium, and it's reach is only gowing. So, should the global internet be a free global commons to be used by government, citizen, criminal and terrorist alike?  In this episode, we’ll be joined by SAGE International Australia’s latest member, Senior Associate Peter Warren. Peter is a multi-award-winning British journalist who has dedicated much of his professional life to understanding the interplay between people, technology and societies. Peter has his own internet-based think tank called Future Intelligence radio technology programme called ‘PassW0rd’ and we are happy to have him on STRATEGIKON. This episode also features local South Australian band "Day Three; Dusk" with their fitting track "Tyrant". They can be found on Youtube, Spotify, and Bandcamp. Please make sure to leave any feedback on our Twitter, Facebook or Website.