Recorded at Malcolm Turnbull’s Sovereignty and Security forum held in Canberra. Is Trump 2.0 an aberration, or a seismic 8 on the Richter scale of international relations? We cannot grit our teeth and ride this out. We must confront reality.  Professor James Curran reminds us of the history between Australia and America, and what it can tell us about our future prospects. These are the closing remarks to the Sovereignty and Security forum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recorded at Malcolm Turnbull’s Sovereignty and Security forum held in Canberra. This panel examines how Australia pursues its national interest in a “might is right” world, and if we should work with other countries to mitigate the economic damage from Trump’s tariff war.  Panellists include: Professor the Hon Gareth Evans AC KC FASSA FAIIA, Cabinet Minister throughout the Hawke-Keating governments, and Australian National University Chancellor 2010-19; Professor Shiro Armstrong, professor of economics at ANU, Director of the Australia-Japan Research Centre, Editor of the East Asia Forum, and Director of the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research; Dr Alan Dupont AO, graduate of the Royal Military College Duntroon and the US Foreign Service Institute, and has worked extensively at the interface of security, politics, business and technology;  John McCarthy AO FAIIA,former Ambassador to Vietnam, Mexico, Thailand, the United States of America, Indonesia, Japan and High Commissioner to India, is currently a Vice Chancellor’s Fellow at Melbourne University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Malcolm Turnbull are Rear Admiral Peter D Briggs, a seasoned submarine operator with 40 years in the Royal Australian Navy, along with Jennifer Parker, a Principal Warfare Officer and HMAS Darwin's second-in-command for two decades, and Dennis Richardson, former Secretary of Defence and Australia’s Ambassador to the U.S. They tackle the viability of AUKUS, questioning its current strategy. The need for a practical submarine design and Australia’s military sovereignty takes center stage, emphasizing the importance of strategic autonomy in a rapidly changing global landscape.

Hugh White, an expert in strategic studies, Geoff Raby, a former ambassador to China, and Heather Smith, a veteran in national intelligence, delve into Australia's pressing security challenges. They critique historical foreign policy misjudgments and explore the nation's reliance on U.S. protection amidst rising Chinese influence. The discussion emphasizes the need for Australia to adopt a multifaceted strategy, engaging more deeply in multilateral relationships while balancing its own defense capabilities for regional stability.

Is our affection for America and Americans blinding us to the reality that Trump’s political values are more aligned to the “might is right”  world view of Putin than they are to ours in Australia?  Malcolm Turnbull’s opening remarks to the Sovereignty and Security forum held in Canberra with over 100 national security and foreign policy experts to discuss policies including the AUKUS submarine project, trade, defence and regional diplomacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malcolm Turnbull shares his insights on the tight race for the White House and what a second Trump term could mean for Australia. He recounts his own experiences dealing with Trump, illustrating strategies to handle a political bully. The discussion delves into the evolving political landscape, including Kamala Harris's rise and fundraising prowess. The potential impacts of Trump's presidency on trade, foreign policy, and the AUKUS submarine deal raise concerns about Australia's autonomy. Navigating U.S.-Australia relations emerges as a delicate balancing act.

Shirley Lin, defending democracy in Taiwan, discusses Taiwan's identity evolution, China's soft power tactics, and the US policy of ambiguity. The war for Taiwan is fought in the hearts and minds of its people, not just on the battlefield.

Former U.S. Marine and Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger warns of China's potential invasion of Taiwan. Highlighting Taiwan's tech importance, he calls for urgent military action to prevent chaos. Discussion includes Taiwan's defense needs, U.S. foreign policy, and the global economic impact of a Taiwan-China conflict.

The potential of a second Trump Presidency has far-reaching implications, particularly in Europe.Cecilia Malmstrom is a Swedish-born politician elected to the European Parliament in 1999, later serving as European commissioner for trade and as European commissioner for home affairs. When Trump was elected, Cecilia promoted free trade worldwide, including an EU/Australia free trade deal when the President imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium.In this episode, Malcolm and Cecilia discuss how immigration and globalisation polarise communities, the threat of right-wing populism to the European Union, and the importance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges like Ukraine. Available on LiSTNRSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.