The National Security Podcast

Where do the other Middle East countries and the Gulf nations stand on the Iran-Israel conflict? How do they view the US’ changing foreign policy? What were the motivations behind the recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran? Was it preventive or pre-emptive action? Is regime change in Iran a realistic objective by Israel/US? Could Australia be asked to support future US military or strategic actions in the region? In this episode, Jessie Moritz and Ian Parmeter join David Andrews in discussion about the unfolding conflicts in the Middle East and their consequences for the future of regional and global security. Dr Jessie Moritz is a Senior Lecturer at the ANU Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies.Ian Parmeter is a research scholar and PhD candidate at the ANU Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies.David Andrews is the Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement at the ANU National Security College.  TRANSCRIPT  Show notes NSC academic programs – find out more   Ian Parmeter: The US has entered the Israel-Iran war. Here are 3 scenarios for what might happen nextIan Parmeter: Netanyahu has two war aims: destroying Iran’s nuclear program and regime change. Are either achievable?Jessie Moritz: A shaky ceasefire; where now for Iran's leadership? And Stan Grant's new life on countryJessie Moritz: Australia's Iran fallout warning despite uneasy truceAbraham AccordsUSAIDUNRWA – United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near EastJCPOA – Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes.   

What is the ‘foreign policy reset’ undertaken by New Zealand’s National government, and how does it differ from the previous Labour government’s approach?  How can New Zealand and Australia strengthen their alliance to face shared security challenges, amidst US uncertainty and strategic competition with China?  How have recent Chinese activities in the Tasman Sea and the wider Pacific been viewed in New Zealand compared to Australia? What impact are these activities having on New Zealanders’ perceptions of China?  In this episode, David Capie and Nicholas Khoo join David Andrews to unpack New Zealand’s shifting foreign and defence policy, its approach to China, AUKUS, and its relationship with Australia. Professor David Capie is Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies and Professor of International Relations at Victoria University of Wellington. Dr Nicholas Khoo is an Associate Professor of International Politics at the University of Otago. David Andrews is Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement at the ANU National Security College. TRANSCRIPT Show notes NSC academic programs – find out more NZ 2025 Defence Capability Plan New Zealand's National Security Strategy FPDA – Five Power Defence Arrangements CPTPP – The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership  We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes.

Why is the Indo-Pacific of importance to Canada? Will it have a more consistent presence in the region in the future? How is Canada adapting its defence capabilities to meet the demands of a rapidly changing geopolitical and technological landscape? What lessons has Canada drawn from the war in Ukraine, and how are these shaping the future of its armed forces and military operations?  In this episode, General Jennie Carignan joins Sally Bulkeley to discuss Canada’s evolving defence posture amid a shifting strategic landscape, with a focus on interoperability with partners like Australia, its Indo-Pacific commitments, and lessons drawn from the war in Ukraine.  General M.A. Jennie Carignan, CMM, MSC, MSM, CD is Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff.  Sally Bulkeley is Deputy Head of College at the ANU National Security College, on secondment from the Department of Defence. TRANSCRIPT  Show notes NSC academic programs – find out more Canada boosts defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP amid growing threats Australia's JORN defence radar is being bought by Canada, the decision is part of a wider shift North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)  We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au.You can contact us on X (formerly Twitter) @NSC_ANU and Bluesky @nscanu.bsky.social, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. 

Can differing global approaches to AI regulation and investment work together, or are we headed toward fragmented, siloed systems? How can AI governance in developing nations be supported as part of regional aid and security agendas? What challenges does Australia face in regulating AI without a national bill of rights or federal human rights charter? Should governments mandate the inclusion of human oversight in all AI-powered decisions? In this episode, Sarah Vallee and Maria O’Sullivan join David Andrews to talk about how AI is impacting national security, with a focus on AI governance models and mass-surveillance.Maria O’Sullivan is an Associate Professor at Deakin Law School. She's a member of the Deakin Cyber Research and Innovation Centre.Sarah Vallee is a specialist in AI Policy and Governance. She's a Fellow at the UTS Human Technology Institute, sponsored by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.David Andrews is Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement at the ANU National Security College. TRANSCRIPT   Show notes  NSC academic programs – find out more  Article 8: respect for your private and family life We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes.  

How is the re-elected Labor Government expected to approach national security and foreign policy in its new term of office? Can Australia strike a sustainable balance between its alliance with the United States and its complex relationship with China? Is the future of the AUKUS agreement secure? What more can the government do to strengthen Australia’s national security through improved preparedness and resilience? In this episode, David Andrews, Will Leben and Bec Strating join Sally Bulkeley to discuss the outcomes of the 2025 Australian Federal Election, what’s in store of the re-elected Albanese Government and the implications for our national security agenda. William Leben is Senior Analyst at The Development Lab and an Expert Associate at the ANU National Security College (NSC). Professor Bec Strating is the Director of La Trobe Asia and a Professor of International Relations at La Trobe University. She is also an Expert Associate at NSC. David Andrews is Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement at NSC. Sally Bulkeley is Deputy Head of College at NSC, on secondment from the Department of Defence. TRANSCRIPTShow notesNSC academic programs – find out more Pulse Check x Australia's Agenda Restoring America’s maritime dominance Asia Rising podcast We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au.You can contact us on X (formerly Twitter) @NSC_ANU and Bluesky @nscanu.bsky.social, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes.

Is Europe ready to defend itself without the United States? What roles do major countries like France, Germany, the UK, and partners like Australia play in this equation? How is the European defence industry responding to the war in Ukraine and rising geopolitical uncertainty? Are the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific theatres now fully integrated in an era of global strategic competition?  In this episode, Thorsten Benner and Bruno Tertrais join Rory Medcalf to explore the evolving landscape of European security in the context of global challenges, particularly the impact of the Trump administration, the China-Russia dynamic, and the potential responses of countries like France and Germany. Thorsten Benner is Co-founder and Director of the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) in Berlin.Bruno Tertrais is Deputy Director of the Fondation pour la recherche stratégique (FRS), a leading French think-tank on international security issues.Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. TRANSCRIPT Show notes ·      NSC academic programs – find out more We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au.You can contact us on X (formerly Twitter) @NSC_ANU and Bluesky @nscanu.bsky.social, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. 

What is the link between gender and extremism? What makes it a national security issue? Can domestic violence act as a ‘comorbidity’ for extremism and radicalisation? Should the Australian Government consider following the lead of other countries and classifying misogyny as a form of extremism? In this episode, Elise Stephenson and Pascale Taplin join Danielle Ireland-Piper to discuss the complex relationship between extremism, gender and national security.Dr Elise Stephenson is the Deputy Director of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at ANU and Fellow at the ANU National Security College (NSC). Pascal Taplin is an anthropologist and PhD candidate at NSC. Associate Professor Danielle-Ireland Piper is Academic Director at NSC. TRANSCRIPT   Show notes  NSC academic programs – find out more Misogyny to be treated as extremism by UK government From home to horror: the association between domestic violence and terrorism See What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill – book See What You Made Me Do – miniseries, documentary National Security Law in Australia – chapter 8 Gender and National Security by Susan Harris Rimmer & Elise Stephenson  We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au.You can contact us on X (formerly Twitter) @NSC_ANU and Bluesky @nscanu.bsky.social, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. 

What kind of external pressures and foreign interference is Taiwan facing?  How does Taiwan balance its status as a global tech giant with its regional security vulnerabilities? In what ways are Australia’s interests intertwined with the security and resilience of Taiwan? In this episode, Ketty Chen and Mark Harrison join Susan Dietz to discuss Taiwan's national security challenges, focusing on the influence of China, the complexities of Taiwan's domestic politics, and the implications of its role in the global tech supply chain. Dr Ketty Chen is Advisor for the National Bureau of Asian Research and an Expert Associate at the ANU National Security College (NSC). Dr Mark Harrison is Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Tasmania and an Expert Associate at NSC. Susan Dietz is Senior Executive Advisor, China at NSC. TRANSCRIPT   Show notes NSC academic programs – find out more.  Revolutionary Taiwan: Making Nationhood in a Changing World Order President Lai introduced 17 major strategies to respond to five major national security and united front threats faced by Taiwan Disinformation in Taiwan – report We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au.You can contact us on X (formerly Twitter) @NSC_ANU and Bluesky @nscanu.bsky.social, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes.  

How does China’s leadership view the relationship with the US, and how has that perspective evolved over the years? How might China seek to take advantage of recent actions by the Trump Administration that have destabilised the international order? How should Australia respond to shifting US-China dynamics in the Indo-Pacific? In this episode, Chris Buckley joins Susan Dietz to discuss the evolving relationship between China and the US, including the implications for economic and bilateral ties, and the wider geopolitical dynamics at play in the Indo-Pacific region.Chris Buckley is the chief China correspondent for The New York Times. He reports on China and Taiwan from Taipei, and focuses on politics, social change, and security and military issues.Susan Dietz is Senior Executive Advisor, China at the ANU National Security College.TRANSCRIPT Show notes ·      NSC academic programs – find out more.We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au.You can contact us on X (formerly Twitter) @NSC_ANU and Bluesky @nscanu.bsky.social, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes.