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The latest news, analysis and opinion on Defence. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
A satellite overview shows the damaged Fordow Fuel Enrichment Facility near Qom, Iran, on Tuesday. Image: Maxar Technologies via Reuters
Israel-Iran conflict

CIA says US bombing set Iran’s nuclear programme back for ‘years’

The US spy agency cited new intelligence, in a statement supporting Trump’s claim that the facilities had been completely destroyed.

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Ukraine war

Trump mulls more Patriots for Ukraine, says Putin ‘really has to end’ the war

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US-China relations

Did US strikes wipe out Iran’s nuclear facilities? Chinese experts sceptical

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War and conflict

Opinion | How an overstretched US could clear space for China’s global rise

As the US gambles on swift military might to advance its interests, China navigates a treacherous diplomatic landscape with hard choices.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
The Philippines

Will Philippines help US in another Middle East conflict?

With the US embroiled in the Israel-Iran war, there is speculation over whether Manila would help Washington, like it did in the Iraq War.

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Japan

US marine’s ‘hugged her’ defence fails as Japan jails him for sexual assault

James Clayton, 22, was sentenced to seven years in prison for attempting to rape a woman in Okinawa.

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Britain

UK to reintroduce nuclear weapon-capable aircraft under Nato

UK to purchase 12 F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons.

A US-made F-35A Lightning jet fighter at the International Paris Air Show. Photo: EPA-EFE
Japan

Japan test-fires missile from home soil for first time amid military build-up

Due to space limitations and safety concerns, Japan conducted past missile tests in the United States and Australia.

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Japan

‘Tactical move’: Japan just cancelled key US security talks. Why?

Behind the scenes, analysts say a quiet push for domestic stability shaped Tokyo’s surprising diplomatic manoeuvre.

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Donald Trump

Trump rattles Nato allies as he descends on summit

The US president refused to commit to the alliance’s mutual defence vow, as Washington warns it may shift focus to the threat from China.

US President Donald Trump arrives at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport ahead of the Nato summit taking place in The Hague on Tuesday. Photo: AP
South China Sea

Opinion | How data-sharing can help defuse South China Sea tensions

A project to share maritime information could contribute to turning the region from a geopolitical flashpoint into a model for preventive diplomacy.

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Chinese sailors wave to their Vietnamese counterparts after a joint patrol in the South China Sea in 2024. Photo: Xinhua
Israel-Iran conflict

US strikes only set back Iran’s nuclear programme by months, early intel shows

White House furious at intelligence leak by ‘low-level loser’ as Trump blasts US media reporting of limited damage to Iranian sites.

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Israel-Iran conflict

No more US offensives on Iran, Trump tells Israel after nuclear site strikes

The US president thinks any imminent threat posed by Iran has been removed and doesn’t want further military involvement, a US official says.

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Australia

Australia faces ‘guns or butter’ problem: defence spending or social programmes?

Caught between China and its US ally, Australia’s ‘have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too’ defence approach carries risks, a new analysis reveals.

Australian soldiers board a Royal Australian Air Force aircraft last week bound for the Middle East for to assist government efforts supporting Australians seeking to leave the region. Photo: Australian Defence Force / AFP
The Philippines

Indo-Pacific or Middle East? US dilemma leaves Philippines exposed

As US attention and resources pivot to a volatile Middle East, experts warn of a strategic vacuum in the Indo-Pacific.

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Supporters of regime change in Iran rally outside the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles, California, on Monday. Photo: Getty Images/AFP
Iran

Letters | Americans must speak up against Trump’s Iran strike

Readers discuss military action against Iran, who Australia needs to be protected against, and family-friendly policies.

The Philippines

Philippines’ Sara Duterte takes aim at US ties, attacks missile deployment

The vice-president urged Manila to pursue an independent foreign policy, arguing it should not ‘cling’ to either the US or China.

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Singapore

Warship diplomacy: UK carrier makes a splash in Singapore

HMS Prince of Wales’ decision to dock at Marina Bay aims to boost public outreach, showcase Britain’s influence as a global power, analysts say.

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The UK’s HMS Prince of Wales arrives at Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Centre on Monday, its first port of call as part of its eight-month deployment for Operation Highmast. Photo: British High Commission Singapore
China's military weapons

Can China’s fighter jets win over sceptical European aircraft buyers?

Defence budgets are growing on the continent but military purchases are not just about price and performance, analysts say.

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Japan

Japan flags record 216 days of Chinese ships near disputed islands

The unprecedented streak of Chinese vessel sightings was capped off by four coastguard vessels that were observed on Sunday, Tokyo said.

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US-China relations

Opinion | How Beijing and Washington can find common ground

Despite areas of divergence, both governments have policy visions that could complement each other’s diplomatic and trade goals.

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A handout photo from the Swiss Foreign Ministry shows US and Chinese flags before a bilateral meeting on trade relations, in Geneva, on May 10. Photo: AFP
Canada

Canada raises defence spending to hit Nato targets amid tariff row: Carney

The new spending comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney tries to reach a deal with the White House to lower or remove tariffs on Canadian goods.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a news conference in the Foyer of the House of Commons in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on Friday. Photo: dpa
Central Asia

Opinion | Why China’s Central Asian footprint is about to get bigger

Boosted by proximity and broad policy objectives, Beijing is slowly gaining the upper hand in the region over Moscow and the European Union.

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South China Sea

The net tightens: how China squeezes Filipino fishers at Scarborough Shoal

A new report warns of China’s growing de facto control, as analysts say ‘grey-zone coercion’ is slowly by surely reshaping the South China Sea.

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Taiwan

What does Taiwan commander’s presence at US drill mean for future military ties?

The major general’s observer role at the Red Flag Alaska exercise may be a sign that the US will step up training and support for the island.

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Major General Wu Chia-hsing, pictured on the far left in a suit, is seen with air force commanders from several other countries. Photo: US Air Force
Israel-Iran conflict

US B-2 bombers moving to Guam amid Israel-Iran tensions

The aircraft can carry the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators designed to strike underground targets like Iran’s Fordow nuclear site.

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A US Air Force B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber is flanked by four F-35 fighters during a flyover of military aircraft down the Hudson River and New York Harbour past York City, and New Jersey in July 2020. Photo: Reuters
Japan

Japan cancels US defence meeting after demand for more spending

Tokyo scrapped the meeting after the US asked Japan to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product.

US-Asean relations

Crisis calculations: Trump’s America has Southeast Asia in a spin

Punitive tariffs and severe aid cuts are shaking the foundations of the US relationship with Asean, deepening a sense of ‘unreliability’.

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