Ben Roberts‑Smith is accused of five war crime murder charges. How did we get here?
The charging of Ben Roberts-Smith marks a significant moment in Australia’s war crimes investigations, highlighting both legal obligations and the challenges of accountability.
Recent articles in Defence
9 April 2026
The world is drifting towards a new nuclear arms race
With arms control agreements collapsing and arsenals expanding, the risk of nuclear war – deliberate or accidental – is rising in a fragile global environment.
1 April 2026
The legal logic behind Israel and Iran’s nuclear divide
The difference between Israel and Iran on nuclear weapons is not a legal contradiction – but a result of how international law is structured around state consent.
30 March 2026
Iran’s target list: taking the war to multinationals
Major corporations are increasingly entangled in modern warfare, blurring the line between civilian infrastructure and military targets.
27 March 2026
Does Iran already have a nuclear deterrent?
Iran may already have the materials and delivery systems to deter a nuclear strike – raising the stakes in an escalating conflict.
25 March 2026
Crippling or buttressing Iran’s nuclear ambition – Part 2
In a new three-part series, Ramesh Thakur examines dimensions of the Iran war. In part two, he analyses how the US-Israeli war may affect Iran's nuclear capacity and ambitions.
23 March 2026
Australia’s dangerous blind spot in Southeast Asia
In this excerpt from his Quarterly Essay, Michael Wesley argues Australia has misread a changing world – clinging to old assumptions, over-relying on the US alliance, and overlooking the growing strategic importance of Southeast Asia.
23 March 2026
Australia’s six pathways to the war with Iran: Part 2
From military bases to diplomacy and defence manufacturing, Australia’s long-standing ties are drawing it further into the US–Israel war on Iran.
21 March 2026
Australia’s six pathways to the war with Iran: Part 1
Australia is already deeply involved in the US–Israel war on Iran, through intelligence, military deployments and long-standing strategic commitments.
19 March 2026
AI's inclination to 'go nuclear'
Studies show AI systems used in military scenarios tend to escalate conflicts, raising serious concerns about their role in decisions involving nuclear weapons.
18 March 2026
AUKUS: So many questions, so few answers
The Australian public deserve to understand the implications of the Morrison/Albanese secretive, AUKUS agreement.
12 March 2026
Off to war in West Asia we go (again)
Deploying an RAAF Wedgetail to West Asia risks making Australia a co-belligerent in the US-Israel war against Iran while exposing the country to serious strategic and economic consequences.
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Best of 2025 - Brave new world
