Dr Rahman Yaacob

Research Fellow, Southeast Asia Program
Areas of expertise

Southeast Asian defence and security

Dr Rahman Yaacob
Biography
Publications
News and media

Dr Abdul Rahman Yaacob is a Research Fellow in the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute. His research interests include Southeast Asia’s defence and security issues and the region’s relations with major powers.

Before joining the Lowy Institute, Rahman completed a PhD at the National Security College, Australian National University. His dissertation examined Singapore’s defence policy and analysed the broader strategic and security issues relating to ASEAN during the Cold War. During his PhD program and with two other project members, Rahman was a lead investigator on a project funded by a grant from the Australian Army Research Centre. The project focused on understanding Southeast Asian security concerns and explored the potential areas for closer defence cooperation between Australia and its northern neighbours. He was also an Academic Staff member and lectured in the ASEAN-Australia Defence Postgraduate Scholarship Program at the Strategic & Defence Studies Centre, ANU. From 2020 to 2023, he was a Teaching Fellow at the Australian Command and Staff Course, Australian War College.

Before commencing his PhD program, Rahman served nearly 18 years with the Government of Singapore. He held various command and staff postings in security-related areas and received several awards, including Ministerial Awards for Operational Excellence and a Commendation for the Rejection of Bribe.

ASEAN’s Indo-Pacific vision in troubled waters
Commentary
ASEAN’s Indo-Pacific vision in troubled waters
Originally posted in the East Asia Forum
China–Philippines trust in troubled waters
Commentary
China–Philippines trust in troubled waters
Originally published in the East Asia Forum
No, Malaysia is not moving away from the West
Commentary
No, Malaysia is not moving away from the West
Originally published in The Strategist
Indonesia pledges closer defence ties with Australia one day – military drills with China the next
Indonesia pledges closer defence ties with Australia one day – military drills with China the next
Jakarta carries risks while seeking the rewards of its friends to all approach to defence diplomacy.
Our new quiet security embrace as Jakarta hedges bets
Commentary
Our new quiet security embrace as Jakarta hedges bets
Originally published by The Australian Financial Review.
Not in the same boat? Perceptions of the Australia-Philippines security partnership
Not in the same boat? Perceptions of the Australia-Philippines security partnership
The closer and growing defence ties between the countries doesn’t appear to have permeated the public mind yet.
A code of conduct won’t solve the South China Sea crisis
A code of conduct won’t solve the South China Sea crisis
Sub-optimal negotiations are likely to lead to a sub-standard agreement.
The fog of measuring military balance in Asia
The fog of measuring military balance in Asia
Numbers alone don’t tell the story.
Lawrence Wong’s ascent as Singapore’s 4th generation leader
Lawrence Wong’s ascent as Singapore’s 4th generation leader
The island-state will have a new prime minister next year, but old hands will help guide the challenge from growing China-US rivalry.
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