In this episode John speaks with Edith Cowan University lecturer in international business, Dr. Naoise McDonagh on the phenomenon of ‘friend-shoring’. We delve deep into what this means for the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party and the world at large. The answers are…complicated, and not what you may expect.

In this episode John speaks with Edith Cowan University lecturer in international business, Dr. Naoise McDonagh on the phenomenon of ‘friend-shoring’. We delve deep into what this means for the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party and the world at large. The answers are…complicated, and not what you may expect.

The Focus is the flagship current affairs podcast of SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical  think tank.

Hosted by Dr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focus brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for Jane’s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.

Produced by Neil Smart, The Focus cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

The Focus&nbsp;is the flagship current affairs podcast of&nbsp;SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical &nbsp;think tank.
Hosted by&nbsp;Dr. John Bruni&mdash;a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media&mdash;The Focus&nbsp;brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the&nbsp;Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for&nbsp;Jane&rsquo;s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.
Produced by&nbsp;Neil Smart,&nbsp;The Focus&nbsp;cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

The Focus

A Friend in Greed is a Friend Indeed? China & the World During an Era of Friend-shoring

As Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds into its fifth year, the geopolitical map is shifting in real time.
In this episode of The Focus, Dr. John Bruni speaks with Lt. Gen. (ret.) Ben Hodges, former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe, about the war’s trajectory, the future of NATO, and the global ripple effects now shaping the international order.
Recorded before the outbreak of U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran, this conversation captures the strategic debate at a critical moment — when tensions were already rising and the world stood on the edge of a wider conflict. The insights remain deeply relevant to understanding what comes next.
Whether the conflict ends through negotiation, exhaustion, or escalation, one thing is clear: Ukraine has become the central strategic battleground shaping the 21st-century security order.
Show Notes:
Topics Discussed
• Russia’s ability to sustain its war effort in Ukraine after five years of fighting • Whether Moscow still possesses a coherent strategy or is now fighting a war of attrition • The latest realities on the Ukrainian battlefield, including drones, long-range strike systems, and evolving tactics • Europe’s growing role in supporting Ukraine and what this means for the future of NATO and the transatlantic alliance • Insights from the Munich Security Conference and the strategic mood among Western policymakers • Russia’s shadow fleet and the ongoing effort to disrupt sanctions evasion • The broader geopolitical landscape involving Iran, China, and shifting global power dynamics • The strategic importance of Greenland and the Arctic in future great-power competition

Key Question
Is NATO weakening without dominant U.S. leadership — or evolving into a more balanced alliance where Europe carries greater strategic responsibility?

Guest
Lt. Gen. (ret.) Ben Hodges Former Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe Senior strategic analyst on European security and NATO.

Host
Dr. John Bruni Founder & CEO, SAGE International Host of The Focus Podcast

About The Focus
The Focus Podcast brings together leading thinkers in geopolitics, defence, and international security to explore the forces shaping the global strategic environment.

As Russia&rsquo;s war in Ukraine grinds into its fifth year, the geopolitical map is shifting in real time. In this episode of The Focus, Dr. John Bruni speaks with Lt. Gen. (ret.) Ben Hodges, former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe, about the war&rsquo;s trajectory, the future of NATO, and the global ripple effects now shaping the international order. Recorded before the outbreak of U.S.&ndash;Israeli strikes on Iran, this conversation captures the strategic debate at a critical moment &mdash; when tensions were already rising and the world stood on the edge of a wider conflict. The insights remain deeply relevant to understanding what comes next. Whether the conflict ends through negotiation, exhaustion, or escalation, one thing is clear: Ukraine has become the central strategic battleground shaping the 21st-century security order. Show Notes: Topics Discussed &bull; Russia&rsquo;s ability to sustain its war effort in Ukraine after five years of fighting &bull; Whether Moscow still possesses a coherent strategy or is now fighting a war of attrition &bull; The latest realities on the Ukrainian battlefield, including drones, long-range strike systems, and evolving tactics &bull; Europe&rsquo;s growing role in supporting Ukraine and what this means for the future of NATO and the transatlantic alliance &bull; Insights from the Munich Security Conference and the strategic mood among Western policymakers &bull; Russia&rsquo;s shadow fleet and the ongoing effort to disrupt sanctions evasion &bull; The broader geopolitical landscape involving Iran, China, and shifting global power dynamics &bull; The strategic importance of Greenland and the Arctic in future great-power competition
Key Question Is NATO weakening without dominant U.S. leadership &mdash; or evolving into a more balanced alliance where Europe carries greater strategic responsibility?
Guest Lt. Gen. (ret.) Ben Hodges Former Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe Senior strategic analyst on European security and NATO.
Host Dr. John Bruni Founder &amp; CEO, SAGE International Host of The Focus Podcast
About The Focus The Focus Podcast brings together leading thinkers in geopolitics, defence, and international security to explore the forces shaping the global strategic environment.

NATO After 5 Years of the Russia-Ukraine War.

🎙️ Is Australia’s Defence Capability Strong — or Structurally Vulnerable?

Australia talks constantly about defence capability.

But if we can’t build, sustain, and properly crew our own force structure — are we truly sovereign?
In this episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni speaks with Mel Pikos from Talking Tactics about the real state of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the country’s defence industry base.
This is not a procurement discussion.

It’s a sovereignty discussion.

Show Notes:

Guest: Mel Pikos (Talking Tactics) Host: Dr John Bruni

Australia talks constantly about defence capability — new platforms, AUKUS, procurement announcements.

But are we building sovereign capacity — or managing structural dependence?

In this episode, Dr John Bruni speaks with Mel Pikos from Talking Tactics about the real state of the ADF and Australia’s defence industry base.

We examine:

• Is defence industry effectively a “fourth arm” of the ADF? • Are Australian SMEs central to innovation — or sidelined by foreign primes? • Does supply chain dependence create strategic vulnerability? • Is recruitment weakness creating hollow force risk across Navy, Army and Air Force? 

• Can capability be strengthened without introducing national service?
This conversation moves beyond procurement headlines to the deeper issue of national resilience.
Sovereignty isn’t announced. It’s built.


You can watch Mel’s excellent podcast Talking Tactics here:

https://www.youtube.com/@MelPikos

 

 

🎙️ Is Australia&rsquo;s Defence Capability Strong &mdash; or Structurally Vulnerable?
Australia talks constantly about defence capability.
But if we can&rsquo;t build, sustain, and properly crew our own force structure &mdash; are we truly sovereign? In this episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni speaks with Mel Pikos from Talking Tactics about the real state of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the country&rsquo;s defence industry base. This is not a procurement discussion.
It&rsquo;s a sovereignty discussion.
Show Notes:
Guest: Mel Pikos (Talking Tactics) Host: Dr John Bruni
Australia talks constantly about defence capability &mdash; new platforms, AUKUS, procurement announcements.
But are we building sovereign capacity &mdash; or managing structural dependence?
In this episode, Dr John Bruni speaks with Mel Pikos from Talking Tactics about the real state of the ADF and Australia&rsquo;s defence industry base.
We examine:
&bull; Is defence industry effectively a &ldquo;fourth arm&rdquo; of the ADF? &bull; Are Australian SMEs central to innovation &mdash; or sidelined by foreign primes? &bull; Does supply chain dependence create strategic vulnerability? &bull; Is recruitment weakness creating hollow force risk across Navy, Army and Air Force? 
&bull; Can capability be strengthened without introducing national service? This conversation moves beyond procurement headlines to the deeper issue of national resilience. Sovereignty isn&rsquo;t announced. It&rsquo;s built.
 You can watch Mel&rsquo;s excellent podcast Talking Tactics here:
https://www.youtube.com/@MelPikos
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

ADF: Boutique Capability or Credible Deterrence?

Is India still a strategic partner of the United States — or is it becoming an independent pole in a rapidly shifting global order?
In this high-level panel discussion, Dr. John Bruni is joined by Lt. General Ravi Shankar (Retd.), former Director General of Artillery of the Indian Army, and Professor Salvatore Babones, political economist at the University of Sydney, to examine India’s evolving role in global geopolitics.

Show Notes

Guests

Lt. General Ravi Shankar (Retd.) is the former Director General of Artillery of the Indian Army and currently serves as Professor of Practice in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Madras. With a distinguished military career spanning decades, he is a respected commentator on India’s defence posture, China–India dynamics, Pakistan, and broader strategic affairs.

The Gunner’s Shot (YouTube Channel): https://www.youtube.com/@gunnersshot 

General Shankar regularly publishes strategic and military analyses through his channel.

Professor Salvatore Babones is a Political Economist and Globalisation Scholar at the University of Sydney. His work focuses on great-power competition, global inequality, and the structural dynamics shaping U.S.–China–India relations.

Recent Books by Salvatore Babones:

The Global Political Economy of the Indo-Pacific (2024)
American Tianxia: Chinese Money, American Power, and the End of History (2023)
The New Authoritarianism: Trump, Populism, and the Tyranny of Experts (2022)

Is India still a strategic partner of the United States &mdash; or is it becoming an independent pole in a rapidly shifting global order? In this high-level panel discussion, Dr. John Bruni is joined by Lt. General Ravi Shankar (Retd.), former Director General of Artillery of the Indian Army, and Professor Salvatore Babones, political economist at the University of Sydney, to examine India&rsquo;s evolving role in global geopolitics.
Show Notes
Guests
Lt. General Ravi Shankar (Retd.) is the former Director General of Artillery of the Indian Army and currently serves as Professor of Practice in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Madras. With a distinguished military career spanning decades, he is a respected commentator on India&rsquo;s defence posture, China&ndash;India dynamics, Pakistan, and broader strategic affairs.
The Gunner&rsquo;s Shot (YouTube Channel): https://www.youtube.com/@gunnersshot&nbsp;
General Shankar regularly publishes strategic and military analyses through his channel.
Professor Salvatore Babones is a Political Economist and Globalisation Scholar at the University of Sydney. His work focuses on great-power competition, global inequality, and the structural dynamics shaping U.S.&ndash;China&ndash;India relations.
Recent Books by Salvatore Babones:
The Global Political Economy of the Indo-Pacific (2024) American Tianxia: Chinese Money, American Power, and the End of History (2023) The New Authoritarianism: Trump, Populism, and the Tyranny of Experts (2022)

A Friend in Greed is a Friend Indeed? China & the World During an Era of Friend-shoring

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