"Top Trump officials acknowledged to lawmakers during recent classified briefings that they did not plan for the possibility of Iran closing the strait in response to strikes."
www.cnn.com/2026/03/12/p...
This short ep from @vanjackson.bsky.social is worth your while. Van pokes holes in the narrative that war against #Iran comes at the expense of America’s military preparedness for a war against China in the Pacific: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Pretty astounding listening to Nadia Schadlow trying to pin strategy to the Trump administration’s chaotic & reactive series of choices on #Iran. FAFO more accurately describes the attacks & attempt at regime change. Kudos @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social for pushing her: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Trump: All of the people that died through the roadside bombs. Died and are right now walking around with no legs.
"Professionalism recognizes that your job is bigger than you are...It understands that a sturdy institution requires a code of conduct. And it sweats details, because if you get enough of those wrong, you get nothing at all right." www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/o...
“The junta’s recent election was an attempt at renewal, but it has been at best a tawdry makeover.” Great piece by Ben Dunant: fulcrum.sg/myanmars-ele...
"Without a coherent framework, ambiguity risks shifting from a policy tool into an illusion of control: the belief that Indonesia remains firmly in charge in Natuna even as Chinese activities persist with limited pushback." #Indonesia www.9dashline.com/article/the-...
Indonesia may be realizing the drawbacks to Prabowo’s recent charm offensive seeking to ingratiate himself with the Trump administration. I expect we might see some recalibration in coming weeks: www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...
www.cnbc.com/2026/03/03/s...
A number of our allies & partners have provisions in basing agreements & defense cooperation MOUs re: the rotation/stationing of US military. If we start violating the treaties that underpin our worldwide defense diplomacy, allies & partners will hedge by seeking arrangements w/ other countries.
This statement is soo Singapore: "Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Friday told parliament that Singapore would not act as a proxy for any major power, stressing that the city state must be prepared to “courteously stand up and say no”." #Singapore www.scmp.com/week-asia/po...
"When the Philippines accepts arrangements that treat China as having operational or legal standing in areas within the Philippine EEZ, it risks contributing to the normalization of Beijing’s nine-dash line narrative." Ping @9dashline.com globalnation.inquirer.net/310987/china...
The pivot to Asia is dead. Long live the pivot to West Asia!
"Singapore enforces Beijing’s technology controls and Washington’s compliance protocols, bending to both sides’ contradictory demands as long as deals keep flowing. The Manus investigation tests whether this tightrope walk is sustainable." www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
“If the United States finds itself in the future with fewer and far less committed friends, it will have no one but itself to blame.” www.cfr.org/articles/wil...
“The real test ahead is whether ASEAN can translate its principled non‑recognition into a more politically astute strategy of conditional engagement that alleviates civilian suffering without rewarding the Myanmar junta’s impunity.” Useful ideas @sharonseah.bsky.social: fulcrum.sg/beyond-non-r...
The pivot to Asia is dead. Great power rivalry has shifted to the realms of energy & technology rather than that of hard power. And US foreign policy is reactive and driven by domestic politics rather than visionary or strategic.
Despite recent wins, I argue @lowyinstitute.bsky.social Labor's Southeast Asia strategy risks imbalance if #Australia's economic footprint can't keep pace with its security/defence partnerships. Thank you @danielflitton.bsky.social for the opportunity to share! www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
People to people ties is one dimension I definitely could have highlighted more, and would go a long way towards explaining why Australia consistently polls lower on influence indexes than it arguably should.
I was asked to lead a Southeast Asia team in government once and laughed at my boss who said ‘we’ve rediscovered Asia, so you’ll have resources.’ I’d heard that before. Government is invested now, but we shouldn’t conflate strong official ties with depth where it counts: people and economies.
Despite recent wins, I argue @lowyinstitute.bsky.social Labor's Southeast Asia strategy risks imbalance if #Australia's economic footprint can't keep pace with its security/defence partnerships. Thank you @danielflitton.bsky.social for the opportunity to share! www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
A really fantastic discussion by my La Trobe Asia colleagues @nickbisley.bsky.social @becstrating.bsky.social on Trump's Asia strategy (or if he has one) @latrobeuni.bsky.social. Give it a listen! soundcloud.com/asia-rising/...
"For Indonesia, the expectation is that Australia will act as a dependable security partner, even under Washington’s pressure, and that engagement will support Jakarta’s strategic autonomy beyond defence." www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
Indonesia prepares to send up to 8,000 troops to Gaza as part of Trump plan www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
"In 2026, ASEAN’s trajectory will hinge on how effectively it addresses internal fractures while positioning itself as a meaningful actor on the global stage," writes Abdual Rahman Yaacob @eastasiaforum.bsky.social: eastasiaforum.org/2026/02/09/r...
