How does Australia’s recently released National Defence Strategy (NDS) differ from a Defence White Paper?

What are the merits of having a bipartisan approach to defence policymaking? How important is it to clearly communicate these concepts to the public?

Is the NDS’ focus on deterrence and denial well-suited to today’s geopolitical landscape?

Should Australia have an unclassified National Security Strategy and National Military Strategy to complement the National Defence Strategy?

In this episode, Elizabeth Buchanan and Andrew Carr join David Andrews to analyse the merits and shortcomings of the 2024 National Defence Strategy.

Dr Elizabeth Buchanan is an Expert Associate at the ANU National Security College (NSC). She is also an Associate Researcher with the French Ministry of Armed Forces’ Institute for Strategic Research, Senior Fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and was previously Head of Research for the Royal Australian Navy’s Sea Power Centre.

Dr Andrew Carr is a Senior Lecturer at the ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre. He is also currently a member of the ANU-Defence Strategic Policy History Project, writing a history of Australian Defence White Papers from 1976-2020.

David Andrews is a Senior Policy Advisor at NSC.

Show notes:

• Launch of the 2024 National Defence Strategy by the Hon Richard Marles MP
• 2024 National Defence Strategy and 2024 Integrated Investment Program
• Defence White Papers
• Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN)
• ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more 

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