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Strategic Weekly Analysis

: Strategic Weekly Analysis

Vol. 3, № 6.

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China-US Relations: Mr Xi Goes to Washington
Iran: A Possible Change towards Negotiations
Sunni-Shiite Violence in Saudi Arabia Highlights Growing Divisions in Middle East
African Drought Causing Food Shortages and Early Migration
Sudan-South Sudan: Khartoum Seizes South’s Oil Wells
Mauritius to Take Captured Somali Pirates
India Records Bumper Crop, Though Problems Remain
“How-to” Flood Management Guide for Cities

The Challenge of Global Degradation and Scarcity

: Global Food and Water Crises

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Key points

Degradation and scarcity of land and water are a growing threat to sustainable food security.
Agricultural systems are at risk throughout the world.
There will be significant limitations on land and water resources by 2050.
25 per cent of global land is already highly degraded.
The intensification of agriculture, alongside improved efficiency in irrigation, is the optimum path toward mitigating this threat and any future damage.

Strategic Weekly Analysis

: Strategic Weekly Analysis

Vol. 3, № 5.

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To Talk or Not to Talk? US-Taliban Discussions in Qatar
Continuing Iranian Naval Exercises: Implications and Possibilities
Maldives: Putting Democracy Back On Track
Libyan Oil 2012: Prospects and Implications
Sudan on Brink of War As Leaders Negotiate Terms over Sovereignty, Trade and Oil
Tanzania Signs up to South Africa-Mozambique Anti-Piracy Agreement

Strategic Weekly Analysis

: Strategic Weekly Analysis

Vol. 3, № 4.

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Progress Report Foreshadows Enhanced Defence Infrastructure
Pakistan and the Afghan End-Game: Need for a Rethink
South Korean President on Mid-East Energy and Trade Quest
India, China and Japan Co-ordinate Anti-Piracy Patrols
IAEA and Iran: Uncertainty Continues
India’s Iranian Sanctions Predicament
Iranian Vice-President’s Oman Visit Highlights Warm Relations across Strait of Hormuz
India’s Water Plight
India Conference: Food Security Worsened by Government Policy

The Future Submarine Project: Implications for West Australia

: Northern Australia

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The Australian Defence Force (ADF), as confirmed by the 2009 White Paper, plays a major role in countering potential threats and challenges to Australian security. Consistent with this, the ADF will, over the coming decades, undergo many innovations in weapon, intelligence, logistics, communications, command and control capabilities.

Amidst this climate of change, a major element of future force structure will be the acquisition of 12 new submarines. While these vessels are more than a decade from entering into active service, critical considerations must be addressed swiftly, to avoid cost and capability challenges. Featuring prominently in these deliberations, regardless of the ultimate makeup of the fleet, should be the role that WA may play in the Future Submarine project. With an advanced and capable manufacturing and technology sector, accompanied by requisite experience in complex projects, WA could play an enhanced role in the acquisition programme, operating within the strict parameters required by the Department of Defence.

South Korea: National Involvement in the Indian Ocean Region

: Indian Ocean

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South Korea (officially, the Republic of Korea) has commenced a process of enlarging its strategic reach, which includes the Indian Ocean region. As a net importer of energy resources, South Korea has a growing appreciation of the security environment and stability required in the Indian Ocean. With many rapidly growing economies, the Indian Ocean region is capable of providing South Korea with significant markets for its goods and high technology industries, as well as providing the natural resources to maintain South Korea’s own economic and strategic position. South Korea is becoming more ambitious in the use of its defence forces in multilateral operations beyond its own immediate region, signalling a willingness to take a greater responsibility for its own strategic future.

The role of science, technology and innovation in solving global food crises

: Workshop Reports

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The fifth workshop series, hosted by Future Directions International’s Global Food and Water Crises Research Programme, examined the role of science, technology and innovation in averting any future food crises. In November 2011, meetings took place in Sydney, Canberra and Perth.

The meetings sought to answer the following question:

“What role can Science, Technology and Innovation play in increasing food yields and overcoming food shortages or oversupply?“

Strategic Weekly Analysis

: Strategic Weekly Analysis

Vol. 3, № 3.

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Egyptian Parliament Sworn In Amid Expectation and Uncertainty
South Sudan: Army on Alert, Oil Flows Stopped
UN Report Calls For New Ways to Tackle Food and Water Security
Sri Lanka: Colombo Orders Islamist Clerics to Leave
Indonesia Urged to Combat Fundamentalists
Mutiny Tip of the Iceberg in PNG Instability

‘The Indian Ocean is Fundamental to UK Interests’ - Admiral Sir Trevor Soar, Royal Navy

: FDI Feature Interviews

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Under pressure from unprecedented defence budget cutbacks and perennial operational deployments, the Royal Navy today is confronted by escalating demands on its limited resources. In this context, Admiral Sir Trevor Soar, the Royal Navy’s Commander-in-Chief Fleet, spoke with Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe, and addressed matters such as the changes in the Royal Navy over the last decade, its contribution to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, the importance of the Indian Ocean as a theatre of operations, the implications of defence budget reductions and the growing importance of coalition interoperability.