12 Aug 2024
Starmer’s Labour sets out to sustain Indo‑Pacific ties
A change of government has refreshed the message, but the overall direction remains the same.
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8 Aug 2024
A reckoning with empire
Two very different volumes on the legacies of imperialism expose the parallax of coloniser and colonised. -
24 Jul 2024
Good vibes only: Can Starmer make the European Political Community work?
Europe’s newest strategic forum has the chance to rally regional leaders around common defence and security challenges. -
15 Jul 2024
What next for UK trade relations with the EU?
The ushering in of new blood in Westminster promises less ideology on trade, but no fewer red lines. -
9 Jul 2024
The broad Asia‑Pacific ambition for Britain under Labour
From AUKUS to climate change, the challenge now is to translate enthusiasm and energy into momentum. -
27 Jun 2024
Julian Assange: Some consular cases are more equal than others
It’s hard to think of a case that has consumed more official hours and dollars. -
19 Jun 2024
How to broaden the political gene pool
With the United Kingdom headed for the polls, Alastair Campbell has a few suggestions on what makes a good leader. -
10 May 2024
Ukraine gets the green light for strikes in Russia – it was long overdue
But nor does this mean the end of Western hesitancy in its support for Ukraine. -
15 Apr 2024
Russia conundrum in the Caucasus and beyond
Once a de facto leader in the post-Soviet space, Moscow is now falling outside the friend zone in its own backyard. -
26 Mar 2024
Opium and the colonial narco-state
In an attempt to control 19th century trade with India and China, Britain dumped tea and resorted to a new addictive drug. -
18 Mar 2024
Reverse colonialism? India and Britain’s free trade agreements
The failure of FTA talks between New Delhi and London rings with an unmistakable tone of irony. -
5 Mar 2024
A role for nuclear in Australia’s climate response?
In the facts-lite political debate, the opportunities and comparative advantages of solar are being sidelined. -
27 Feb 2024
AUKUS is a Trump-style deal
He rebels against the language of a “rules-based order” but he is happy to talk business. -
1 Feb 2024
Is AUKUS Pillar I unworkable?
The strategic logic might be compelling, but that alone won’t get the number of nuclear-powered subs built in time. -
20 Nov 2023
The Chagos dilemma
Duelling dynasties, violations of international law, and great power dynamics leave dispossessed Chagossians in limbo. -
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15 Nov 2023
The Bletchley Park artificial intelligence summit: Good optics, less substance
A jumbled collection of commonplace platitudes does not a remarkable outcome make. -
25 Oct 2023
AUKUS as Big Science?
With all the focus on nuclear-powered submarines, are we missing a chance to achieve something truly transformative? -
12 Oct 2023
Voting “Yes” in the heart of empire
If the ballot queue in London were any guide, the Voice would win hands down. -
8 Sep 2023
Boris Johnson: Does distance really lend enchantment to the view?
A recent biography on the former PM reveals a man short on dignity and gravitas, and afraid to make the hard decisions. -
25 Aug 2023
The social licence for AUKUS has not yet been earned
Convincing Australians that nuclear-powered subs are needed, and worth the $368 billion price tag, is a hard sell. -
5 Jul 2023
Stumped by the cricket controversy? Here’s how sport and politics collide
When PMs weigh in on the “spirit”, you might start to wonder about the effect on oft-cited shared values. -
20 Jun 2023
Chemical weapons: Impunity is killing deterrence
Poisoning continues as a favoured form of invisible warfare meted out by dictators and autocrats, with horrific results. -
11 May 2023
Australia: The lynchpin of a modernised Commonwealth
A network of middle powers and small states supporting one another. What’s not to like? -
24 Apr 2023
To India, spoils of empire a less sparkly side of Charles’ coronation
Narendra Modi has set out to erase a colonial mindset in public life, but its replacement has generated its own unease. -
10 Mar 2023
AUKUS: Asking a veteran submariner what to think
What are the big issues still lurking beneath the surface of the AUKUS debate? -
2 Mar 2023
AUKUS and intellectual property
In an era of economic entanglement, IP theft has the potential to threaten democracy. Governments need to be vigilant. -
10 Nov 2022
Battle for Chagos
A dispute over sovereignty in the Indian Ocean tracks Britain’s dwindling empire and the path of international law. -
2 Nov 2022
Can the UK stop the boats?
Attempting to mimic the Australian model ignores the striking differences that confront post-Brexit Britain. -
12 Oct 2022
Liz Truss and foreign policy: expect the unexpected
The new PM may see global affairs as welcome theatre to demonstrate leadership and distract from domestic pressure. -
12 Sep 2022
History, one tribute at a time
Reactions to the Queen’s death reflect our complex attitudes to the United Kingdom. -
27 Jul 2022
France can help Albanese fix AUKUS
Labor faces a dilemma over nuclear-powered subs and the non-proliferation regime. An old partner might offer an answer. -
26 Jul 2022
Answering China’s South China Sea flying safety challenge
A regional response can best manage risks, and the Five Power Defence Arrangement offers just the mechanism. -
17 Jun 2022
The British Indian Ocean Territory and the rules-based order
In claiming sovereignty over Chagos, London privileges Western interests. And breaks international law. -
9 May 2022
The time is right for Australia to forge stronger ties with Europe
A new world has created new opportunities in energy, security and diplomacy that Canberra should grab without delay. -
8 Apr 2022
Britain in Southeast Asia: How to keep old friends newly engaged
Are there too many Indo-Pacific inputs right now from various European actors, individually and collectively? -
4 Apr 2022
AUKUS can be a good platform for cooperation with India
And it wouldn’t be the first time the partners had worked together, either. -
14 Feb 2022
The curious case of Blenheim Reef
A coral reef in the middle of the Indian Ocean, owned by no-one, is fast becoming a focus of international controversy. -
9 Feb 2022
Mauritius sets sail to Chagos
The UK faces a lose-lose situation as demonstrators put disputed Indian Ocean archipelago in the spotlight. -
25 Jan 2022
AUKMIN shows the UK is a world away from Australia
London’s global focus on malign authoritarian actors makes clear thinking and prioritisation impossible. -
24 Jan 2022
The D10 is dead, long live the … Network of Liberty?
Not explicitly focussing on a grouping of democracies is smart and includes more countries engaged in pushback on China. -
29 Dec 2021
An AUKUS surprise – Best of The Interpreter 2021
An extraordinary decision put Australia at the centre of regional defence debates. -
22 Dec 2021
India remains divided about AUKUS
Something about the new Australia, UK and US deal suggests it could detract from the value and usefulness of the Quad. -
14 Dec 2021
From Brentford to the world: The Interpreter’s 2021 favourites
Watching his hometown team take on the English Premier League after a seven-decade hiatus was worth the wait. -
14 Dec 2021
Why isn’t Australia putting diplomacy first?
Canberra is out of step with its key allies with one of the most potent tools its international arsenal. -
8 Nov 2021
Indonesia-Australia: Deeper divide lies beneath AUKUS submarine rift
Indonesia is committed to “standing in the middle” between the United States and China and using ASEAN as a buffer. -
28 Oct 2021
Britain and Australia aren’t actually treaty allies – they should be
Only a formal deal will lock in the gains under AUKUS against future uncertainty. -
21 Oct 2021
Queen Elizabeth II: For Country and Commonwealth
From the Suez crisis to dicing with dictators – a steady reign spanning seven decades of constant global change. -
14 Oct 2021
AUKUS: Why Beijing didn’t go ballistic
China’s reaction was in words not deeds. Another high-profile case may have influenced its attitude. -
5 Oct 2021
In defence of AUKUS
This is not only about nuclear-powered submarines; it is about a strengthened US commitment to Australia.