By Richard Stone Moves by Kiribati to negotiate a deep-sea mining deal with China, have closely followed similar moves by the Cook Islands. The moves have taken place against a backcloth of underlying trends in the global economy and a changing balance of forces, with far-reaching implications for US hegemony. The two tiny Pacific Island countries have, for example, geo-strategic …

By Binoy Kampmark February 7 saw the first AUKUS meeting held between officials of the Trump administration and their Australian servitors since the changing of the guard in the White House. In attendance was the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and his unbearably compliant Australian counterpart Richard Marles. From all general appearances, the sense was that a change of government …

By Richard Stone The official medal to a top US spook in Canberra has provided little room for ambiguity when assessing the close working relationship between the Australian and US intelligence services. They are closely linked. Australia has, therefore, been drawn ever closer to the US through diplomatic agreements, and continues to host their sensitive military and intelligence facilities. The …

By Michael Willis The first operational outcome of the Pillar 2 AUKUS arrangement between the US, UK and Australia has just been announced. The three countries will share data from their submarine-hunting PA-8 Poseidon aircraft, manufactured by the troubled Boeing Corporation. This was announced on May 29 in an “exclusive interview” given to US online website Breaking Defense by Michael …