The strategy focuses on strengthening Australia’s capacity to protect and defend Australia and its national interests within an increasingly contested and uncertain environment. It builds on the foundations of the inaugural 2024 strategy by increasing efforts to develop greater self-reliance, prioritising capability acquisition, improving national civil preparedness and resilience, and increasing coordination with regional partners.

The index measures resources and influence to rank the relative power of states in Asia. It ranks 27 countries and territories in terms of their capacity to shape their external environment. This report contains in-depth analysis of the 2025 edition, providing insight into the changing power distribution in Asia and its geopolitical consequences.

The Philippines contains vital terrain in maritime Southeast Asia, for the United States and its regional allies. Australia has independent reasons to be invested in the security of the Philippines. This report analyses the factors that have brought about strategic convergence between Australia and the Philippines. It offers policy recommendations to both governments for furthering...

This bilingual research reveals how tensions in the South China Sea are misunderstood and misrepresented in Australia. It provides an overview of strategic and economic considerations, recent developments and policy outlook. It finds the often-repeated claim that China is aggressively expanding into the territory of neighbouring countries is an oversimplification of long-running tensions.

The European Union's (EU's) security and defence partnerships (SDP) are non-legally binding documents that provide ‘mutually beneficial frameworks’ to promote defence and security cooperation between like-minded states. The idea of an Australia-EU defence pact was floated in May 2025. This paper outlines what is being proposed, strategic considerations and next steps.