The results of the German federal elections held on 28 February 2025 were quickly clear to everyone; now the traditionally major parties of the centre right (Christian Democratic Union and their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union: CDU/CSU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) are hard at work in the negotiations for a new, so-called “Great Coalition” between the two. These negotiations are being conducted with an unaccustomed sense of urgency.

Sharing disaster lessons plays a crucial role in strengthening resilience across Indo-Pacific countries. It fosters unity and collaboration, promoting international cooperation to enhance regional preparedness and prosperity by investing in human capacity, scaling up traditional knowledge, and leveraging technology. 

President Trump's emerging foreign policy ideology is forcing US allies, including Australia, to reassess their strategic positions. As American leadership becomes increasingly transactional, Canberra must navigate a shifting global order by balancing security concerns with economic resilience, forging new regional partnerships, and maintaining strategic flexibility in an era of geopolitical uncertainty.

The Indo-Pacific faces significant maritime challenges, and the solutions to that problem are undermined by insufficient maritime domain awareness (MDA) and fragmented international cooperation. A “Maritime Domain Awareness Mobile Application” featuring an open-source, user-friendly design with interactive functionalities could help address both shortfalls. The app would improve policymakers’ access to maritime information while fostering trust and regional collaboration, starting with a pilot program built by Vietnam.

2025 is shaping up to be yet another huge year for technology and geopolitics. AI has so much hype, it can be hard to cut through and get a sense of reality.  Yet, the initial promise of technology rarely predicts how it ultimately develops and integrates into society. The space between the promise and reality offers insight into some interesting trends for 2025.

The recent Los Angeles fires warrant the importance of climate change prevention. With polices shifts under the new Trump Administration, Australia needs to […]

By investing in key UN institutional mechanisms, Australia can contribute to upholding the rules-based order of the law of the sea and enhancing the ecological security of our oceans, leading to a more sustainable and secure Indo-Pacific region.

As states continue exploring options for the reform of Investor-State Dispute Settlement, the EU’s proposal to establish a Multilateral Investment Court faces an uncertain legal and political landscape.

A key question thrown up by President Trump’s recent dealings with Ukraine is “where do we go from here for European security?” The American abandonment of Ukraine should not be surprising. This war had to be brought to a close—although Trump’s actions have been undiplomatic and bordering on bizarre. Are there ideas from the late 1980s and early 90s that can be considered today? 

Strategic media engagement is a crucial yet often overlooked tool for fostering collaboration in maritime issues. One of the key challenges lies in the limited maritime reporting literacy among journalists and coastal communities, who often lack access to specialised training, scientific resources, or government briefings on maritime governance and security.