Episode 4: Can Australia defend itself by adopting the Echidna strategy?
Apr 2, 2025
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In this discussion, Sam Roggeveen, a strategic expert and author, proposes the 'Echidna Strategy' for Australia, focusing on self-reliance and adaptable defense in a shifting geopolitical landscape. Retired Major General Mick Ryan shares his insights on the implications of U.S. foreign policy and the need for Australia to bolster its military capabilities independently. Brigadier Ian Langford emphasizes the integration of emerging technologies like AI and drones in defense strategies, advocating for a balance between military strength and regional diplomacy.
The podcast stresses Australia's urgent need for self-reliance in defense due to shifting international alliances and reduced American support.
The 'Echidna Strategy' promotes leveraging geographical advantages to enhance Australia's defense capabilities against emerging threats like China.
There is a critical necessity for Australia to bolster its domestic defense industry and cybersecurity resilience to prepare for modern security challenges.
Deep dives
Reassessing Alliances in a Changing World
The podcast emphasizes that Australia is facing a significant shift in its international alliances, particularly with the United States. With changes in U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration, Australia must reconsider its reliance on American support for national defense. The conversation highlights the need for Australia to explore self-reliance, especially in the context of its geographic distances from potential threats. Given the lack of a clear military adversary nearby, Australia has the opportunity to strengthen its own defense capabilities independent of American guarantees.
The Echidna Strategy: A Unique Approach to Defense
The discussion introduces the 'Echidna Strategy,' which reframes Australia’s defense posture. This strategy posits that Australia can leverage its geographical distance to its advantage, positioning the nation to manage threats effectively without immediate alliance support. The speaker argues that while the military landscape is evolving, with growing capabilities from countries like China, Australia's inherent geographical benefits must not be overlooked. By treating the distance from potential threats as an asset rather than a hurdle, Australia can focus on building a robust defense mechanism that is capable of inflicting substantial damage on any approaching adversary.
National Security Strategy and Resilience
A critical theme of the podcast is the urgent need for Australia to develop a comprehensive national security strategy that encompasses various aspects of national resilience. The podcast points out that Australia has historically exhibited complacency regarding national defense due to its geographical separation from potential threats. A national strategy would address not only military capabilities but also enhance resilience in sectors like energy and telecommunications, which are essential for national security. By fostering a proactive public discourse about threats, from authoritarian regimes to cyber warfare, Australia can better prepare itself for the complexities of modern security challenges.
The Role of Industry and Innovation in Defence
The dialogue underscores the importance of boosting Australia’s domestic defense industry as a means of achieving greater self-sufficiency. The podcast acknowledges that Australia's defense capability is limited by its reliance on foreign suppliers, and calls for increased investment in local defense industries. By leveraging the existing industrial base, including technology from sectors like mining, Australia can innovate and produce military equipment tailored to its specific needs. This approach could facilitate a diversely capable military force and ensure that Australia is not entirely dependent on international partners for defense needs.
The Shifting Landscape of Cyber Warfare
Cybersecurity emerges as a pivotal concern, with the podcast highlighting that Australia is already facing various cyber threats from state and non-state actors. The discussion points to how key adversaries, particularly China and Russia, are actively probing Australia's critical infrastructure for vulnerabilities. Australian defence agencies are engaged in ongoing battles in cyberspace, and there is a need for a stronger emphasis on building cyber resilience. By integrating cyber capabilities into the national defense framework, Australia can better safeguard itself against both foreign aggressions and domestic cybercrime.
Recorded at Malcolm Turnbull’s Sovereignty and Security forum held in Canberra.
In the absence of support from America, should Australia adopt an Echidna Strategy - friendly to those who don’t mean us harm, and spikey and indigestible to those who do?
This panel discusses the big question of whether Australia can defend itself’, and how.
Panellists include: Sam Roggeveen, Director at the Lowy Institute, and author of The Echidna Strategy: Australia’s Search for Power and Peace, senior strategic analyst at the Office of National Assessments, an analyst in the Defence Intelligence Organisation; Major General Mick Ryan AM (Rtd), served for 35 years in the Australian Army including in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as on the U.S. joint staff in Washington DC. Because of his writing about the war in Ukraine, and support for its efforts, Mick was sanctioned by the Russian government in 2022; Professor (Brigadier Retd) Ian Langford PhD DSC and Bars served for more than 31 years in the Australian Defence Force as a senior military officer. He is the Executive Director of Security & Defence PLuS, a research initiative between Kings College London, Arizona State University and the University of New South Wales.
