Australia’s investment in a new system strengthens its ability to plan, and execute air operations—ensuring faster decisions, reliable coordination, and improved awareness in increasingly contested environments. Contractor Leidos provides engineering, maintenance, and training support.

Australia’s decision to base ships on both coasts reshaped operations and culture—expanding infrastructure, training and support, while introducing challenges for personnel and long-term planning that continue to shape future capability development.

Moral leadership has historically strengthened US influence. Responses to Russia’s invasion must weigh more than power politics—it requires moral responsibility and values, ensuring smaller nations are not sacrificed to appease greater powers.

Bonus systems often fail to motivate because they create uncertainty, undermine intrinsic commitment, and can encourage unethical behaviour. Sustainable performance comes from autonomy, fairness, trust and purpose, rather than transactional rewards.

Ayatollah Khamenei reaffirmed Tehran’s defiance in the nuclear standoff, labelling negotiations with the U.S. futile and framing resistance to external pressure as central to Iran’s national identity, complicating prospects for diplomatic resolution.

South Korea has initiated efforts to normalize diplomatic relations with China, dispatching a high-level delegation to Beijing. This move aims to mend ties strained by past disputes, including the 2017 THAAD deployment.

Coordinated, multi-use infrastructure—planned with early Defence, government, commercial, and investor collaboration—is needed to boost resilience and capability, reduce duplication, and ensure assets remain adaptable for crises ranging from natural disasters to regional disruptions.

To ensure military AI systems are effective, ethical, and aligned with strategic goals, defence organizations must prioritize transparency, explainability, and rigorous oversight; moving beyond rapid deployment to responsible adoption of the technology.

The U.S. and EU must forge a strategic alliance to secure critical minerals like tungsten—vital for defence technologies. This collaboration would reduce dependence on China, bolster supply chains, and enhance military readiness.

Taiwan plans to raise its 2026 defence budget by 22.9 percent, in 2026. This increase responds to China's escalating military pressure and aligns with U.S. calls for Taiwan to bolster its defence capabilities.