Security and Defence

Human Security Centre (HSC) Senior Fellow Simon Schofield has had a comment piece examining the latest developments in Turkish foreign policy published in CapX. In the article, he outlines how Ankara's interventions in Iraq, Syria and Libya, fostering of jihadists and colluding with powers such as Iran have left relations between Turkey and the West at a critical juncture.

While the plot may have turned out to be a complete fabrication, the fear and panic inspired by the initial reports serve as a reminder that mokroye delo - wet affairs or “wetwork” in the West - has seen a resurgence under Vladimir Putin.

Any hopes of an alternate course for Russia have surely been dashed by the constitutional overhaul and it appears that the future will hold significantly more continuity than change for the country both internally and externally.

Despite Kaliningrad’s rich and complex history, the city’s current aesthetic, economic stagnation and social instability is in need of attention. However, for as long as Russian authorities prioritise its military importance, Kaliningrad’s residents will have to wait.

The Belarus-Russia integration process has been put on hold indefinitely and with relations between the two states entering a more pragmatic phase, Lukashenko will likely enhance his efforts to build further bridges between Belarus and the West.

Through Operation Bushfire Assist, Australia and its partners continue to develop interoperability, a crucial feat which will be called upon to face future challenges in the South Pacific region.

Investment in civil-military cooperation has increased in recent years, as there is greater recognition that this is a field in need of improvement.

As the nature of the threat evolves, it is essential that policymakers and analysts are forward thinking and develop innovative measures to further enhance the population's safety.

While it is unlikely that Zelenskiy or Putin will have softened on their positions regarding the Ukrainian border and the election timeline, the Paris summit has re-opened the peace dialogue and de-escalated tensions between the two states.

The Arctic has long been a space of stability and of healthy inter-governmental collaboration. It is vital that this stability endures and the status quo persists to preserve the region and ensure its stable development.