Mike Hughes

At #ASPIDefCon26, ASPI Executive Director @BassiJustin was joined by 🇦🇺's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence @RichardMarlesMP to discuss AUKUS, deterrence, emerging technologies, the 🇦🇺–🇺🇸 alliance and the social licence for defence. 📺 Watch: bit.ly/4aS7QGe

The latest edition of ASPI’s Fault Lines digest is out now! This edition covers North Korea’s naval buildup, Thailand’s troubled Landbridge project, Australia’s diplomacy in the Pacific, and much more. 📩: aspidefence.substack.com/subscribe 📚: open.substack.com/pub/aspidefenc…

Some NZ commentators frequently say AUKUS betrays the spirit of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone. Thanks to a remarkable new technology, we’ve been able to visualize those same commentators’ objections when China fires a submarine-launched ballistic missile into the same place

ASPI's Head of China Investigations and Analysis @BethanyAllenEbr joined @abcnews to discuss Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's criticism of ASIO, the CCP's foreign interference and espionage activities, and what the ambassador's remarks mean for 🇦🇺–🇨🇳 relations. 📺 Watch here ⤵️

NEW PODCAST 🎙️ ASPI Non-Resident Senior Fellow Raquel Garbers joins @davidwroe on Stop the World to discuss the role of middle powers in an age of uncertainty and how like-minded states can strengthen their collective agency. 🎧 Listen now: bit.ly/4v29eNK

The latest edition of ASPI’s Fault Lines digest is out now! This edition covers North Korea’s foreign trade, Myanmar-China relations, the Bougainville independence referendum and much more. 📩: aspidefence.substack.com/subscribe 📚: open.substack.com/pub/aspidefenc…

This article in @australian features Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles' remarks at #ASPIDefCon26, highlighting his view that Australians have a “rational” understanding of the dangers facing the country as conflicts rage around the world. 🗞️ Read ➡️ bit.ly/4eDWok0

The Australia–France Roadmap upgrade is necessary in a downgraded global environment | @EfreconMerlyon | bit.ly/4p0brYO

NEW PUBLICATION 📢 ‘Australian security in an era of uncertainty’ brings together analysis from ASPI's Defence Strategy Program, covering deterrence, regional security, defence capability and the strategic challenges shaping Australia's security. 🔖: bit.ly/4eQ61e0

Almost all of Australia's trade travels by sea. Our fuel, food, pharmaceuticals and essentials depend on secure maritime access. That's not a detail, it's an existential vulnerability. Anyone who dismisses protecting Australia's maritime trade isn't just unserious about national security. They're negligent. AUKUS and our commitment to nuclear-powered submarines is how we protect that. Grateful to @ASPI_org's The Strategist for covering my Senate speech. You can read it here: 👉senatorciccone.com.au/aukus-critics-… #auspol #aukus #submarine #australia #defence #adf #youradf #nationalsecurity #maritimetrade @RichardMarlesMP @PatConroy1 @PeterKhalilMP @BassiJustin @StatecraftINT

ASPI's @DavidWroe joined @SkyNewsAust to unpack key discussions from the 2026 ASPI Defence Conference, including Deputy PM Richard Marles' comments on AI and 🇦🇺's need to build greater agency, AUKUS as a national endeavour, the changing nature of warfare and more. 📺 Watch ⬇️

It was an honour to host Deputy PM @RichardMarlesMP at the @ASPI_org Defence Conference. Throughout the day the discussions focused on what 🇦🇺 can, should & needs to do to increase our security and retain agency amidst an era of instability, conflict and technological change.

“In five years' time you won’t even recognise our Defence Force, because it will be fully, fully meshed and integrated.” In conversation with @fitzhunter at #ASPIDefCon26, @CJC_ADF—and the incoming Chief of Army—gave her views on the future of joint integration in the ADF. 📺👇

"If you think that everything you have in your kit bag is going to work at point and time of need tomorrow —[you're] delusional." At #ASPIDefCon26, @CJC_ADF discussed the importance of the ADF's workforce in securing the systems required to fight at the highest level. Watch 👇

What a great conference. Thanks to everyone who attended, supported and contributed today. We look forward to seeing you next year!

At #ASPIDefCon2026, @ChiefAusArmy tells the audience about three enduring pillars of Australia's defence: “alliance with the maritime power of the day”, “collective defence and security” and “ensuring that we are net contributors to those alliances”. Hear his thoughts 💭⬇️

At #ASPIDefCon26, @CN_Australia highlights the importance of AUKUS in Australia's strategy of denial. As Australia is an island nation "whose approaches require traversing the oceans", nuclear submarines will be "an extremely important deterrent capability". Watch below ⤵️

Kicking off with an excellent session with South Australian Premier @PMalinauskasMP in conversation with @stephendziedzic. A great discussion on why AUKUS is a national endeavour. “It is the Crown Jewels that all others would give up everything to acquire”

Incoming CDF Mark Hammond says Australia doesn't have deep enough pockets to defend itself without *any* help from allies/partners. It has never really been contemplated in any of our defence strategies. Hammond says doing so would cost at least ***10% of GDP***

“In the Baltic states, 🇵🇱 and 🇫🇮, we see the flame and we feel the heat, in 🇫🇷 and 🇩🇪 they maybe smell the smoke, and in 🇵🇹 they are asking ‘what war are you talking about?’” Speaking at #ASPIDefCon26, @KVizbaras assesses Europe’s progress to integrating its defence industries.