United States Studies Centre

Iran’s missile program reflects years of external support. As @USSC's @lavinalee3 writes, Iran's missile arsenal is "all based on North Korean technology… improved and manufactured in Iran with direct engineering and technical assistance from Pyongyang.” ussc.edu.au/iran-isn-t-iso…

Washington had many instances of being a challenging ally, says @USSC's @JaredMondschein. The question is whether the Trump administration’s actions indicate enduring structural change. afr.com/policy/foreign…

Critical minerals are now seen as strategic defence assets. And yet, supply chains remain highly concentrated. With time of the essence, what can Australia and its partners do to address the challenge? → ussc.edu.au/building-suppl…

Australia and South Korea share strong foundations for cooperation — yet progress remains incremental and episodic. So what's holding the partnership back? We unpack it in our latest report → ussc.edu.au/outcomes-of-th…

The WTO’s “crown jewel” dispute system is no longer functioning. Without enforcement, what role can it still play in global trade? Sahara Hoff explains. ussc.edu.au/what-is-the-fu…

How might the war in Iran end? This Thursday, join @DrMichaelJGreen, @RanaDadpour, @FarazMaghami and @JaredMondschein to unpack it and more. Register ↓ ussc.edu.au/what-the-iran-…

With the end of the “Washington consensus”, the Future Made in Australia agenda should be "recast to give greater weight to national security and economic security interests,” says @USSC's Dr John Kunkel. theaustralian.com.au/commentary/wer…

Australia is far from the Middle East, but it remains economically exposed. @USSC's @HayleyChanner says it’s not just fuel. Rerouted shipping, insurance hikes and supply disruptions are compounding, and “that will push prices up for all goods.” sbs.com.au/news/article/a…

“At the moment of greatest urgency, American inventories are low.” @USSC's @CorbenTom explores how sustained operations — including the war against Iran — are exposing deeper shortfalls in US missile production. ↓ ussc.edu.au/by-the-numbers…

Two competing visions are emerging for US allies in a changing world order. For @ForeignAffairs, @USSC's @DrMichaelJGreen argues Sanae Takaichi’s strategy — anchoring coalitions around US power — offers "the more realistic path." Read → ussc.edu.au/how-takaichi-c…

As the conflict with Iran continues, Pete Hegseth is now firmly in the spotlight. So who is he? @USSC's @DrMichaelJGreen, @bwolpe and @dtsmith_sydney provide their insights for @smh. smh.com.au/world/north-am…

Why does the messaging keep shifting on the Iran war? “Trump clearly doesn’t want to get tied to any single war aim.” @USSC+@Sydney_Uni’s @dtsmith_sydney says shifting rhetoric reflects the political risks of committing to a clearly defined objective. abc.net.au/news/2026-03-1…

A 33km-wide waterway is threatening global energy markets. Recent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have already pushed energy prices up nearly 30%. Our latest interactive breaks down which countries are exposed ↓ ussc.edu.au/by-the-numbers…

🎥 What’s next for the Quad? @DrMichaelJGreen, @lavinalee3, @CharlesEdel and @d_jaishankar discuss it. Watch the panel → youtube.com/watch?v=7WeN7e…

The future of the Quad took centre stage in Sydney this February. Together with @dfat, we convened the Quad Leadership Track-1.5 Dialogue, bringing together senior officials, diplomats, scholars and industry leaders from across the Indo-Pacific.

🎥 Panel 2: Australia–Taiwan relations — policy options and priorities for engagement Featuring @NickBisley, @caitebyrne and Rachel Noble on pathways to deepen engagement with Taiwan while maintaining regional stability. Watch → youtube.com/watch?v=vMV9Ds…

What role should Taiwan play in Australia’s strategic outlook? We launched a new report in February examining the opportunities and constraints shaping Australia–Taiwan ties — with practical policy options for Canberra. Read the report → ussc.edu.au/australia-taiw…

🎥 Panel 1: Strategy, alliances and uncertainty in the Indo-Pacific Featuring @BassiJustin, @DrMichaelJGreen, @lavinalee3 and Peter Varghese discussing the evolving US strategic outlook and what it means for Australia and its partners. Watch → youtube.com/watch?v=5sf-oe…

Or watch the full recordings of the event's panel discussions ↓

I had a productive exchange with former Australian PM @TurnbullMalcolm and met with scholars at the University of Sydney’s US Studies Centre @USSC . We discussed Indo-Pacific stability, economic security, and opportunities to deepen Taiwan–Australia strategic cooperation. 🇹🇼 🇦🇺