The National Security Podcast

As Indonesian head to the polls on 14 February, what’s important to know about the nation’s conception of democracy and its political ecosystem?

Who are the key candidates in the presidential election — what do they represent?

And what could be the implications of a change of government for security and diplomacy in the region?

In this episode, Natalie Sambhi and Gary Quinlan join Rory Medcalf to discuss the upcoming Indonesian elections, and how the outcome might impact bilateral ties with Australia and security in the region.

Dr Natalie Sambhi is a Senior Policy Fellow with Asia Society Australia and the Founder and Executive Director of Verve Research. Her research focuses on Indonesian military affairs, Indonesian defence policy and Southeast Asian security.

Gary Quinlan AO is a former diplomat and public servant who served as Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, High Commissioner to Singapore and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, Intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia.

Show notes:

• Securing our Future – national security conference, 9–10 April, 2024: secure your tickets

We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

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What is the significance of the Indian Ocean in Indo-Pacific security?

Is it useful to distinguish between traditional and non-traditional maritime threats?

And how might the AUKUS agreement reshape maritime security in the region?

In this episode, Frédéric Grare and Justin Burke join Jennifer Parker to tackle the maritime challenges facing Australia and the region.

Dr Frédéric Grare is a Senior Research Fellow at the ANU National Security College (NSC) in an expert program sponsored by the government of France.

Justin Burke is a Senior Policy Advisor at NSC and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Centre for Maritime Strategy and Security at the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University.

Jennifer Parker is an Expert Associate at NSC and an Adjunct Fellow in Naval Studies at UNSW Canberra.

Show notes:

• Securing our Future – a national security conference: secure your tickets
• National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): find out more
• IUU Fishing: find out more

We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the strategic significance of the Indian Ocean to Australia?

What challenges and opportunities does the region present for Australia and its partners?

And how much can Australia realistically achieve in such a vast region?

In this episode, Darshana Baruah, David Brewster and Shafqat Munir join Rory Medcalf to discuss the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean to Australia and the region.

Darshana Baruah is a Fellow with the Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace where she directs the Indian Ocean Initiative.

David Brewster is a Senior Research Fellow at the ANU National Security College (NSC) and focuses on security in India and the Indian Ocean region, and Indo-Pacific maritime affairs.

Shafqat Munir is a Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Bangladesh Centre for Terrorism Research at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies.

Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of NSC. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, Intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia.

Show notes:

Securing our Future – national security conference, 9–10 April, 2024: secure your tickets

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS): find out more

Foreign Policy White Paper (2017): find out more

We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of National Security Podcast, we speak with the Perth USAsia Centre's Dr Jeffrey Wilson about Australia's new investment measures and a shift toward caution in the face of foreign purchasing power.

In recent years, many developed economies have been enhancing their foreign investment laws with a heightened focus on national security. On Friday 5 June, Australia announced that it would be following suit, introducing new screening measures to ensure foreign nationals and organisations would not endanger Australia by buying controlling stakes in sensitive areas of the economy. But what is driving this shift in the way countries view foreign investment, and why has Australia chosen now to readjust the way it understands its vulnerabilities and risks?

Dr Jeffrey Wilson is Research Director at the Perth USAsia Centre. He provides leadership and strategic direction in developing the Centre’s research program across its publications, policy and dialogue activities. Jeffrey specialises in the regional economic integration of the Indo-Pacific and has particular expertise in the politics of trade agreements, regional economic institutions, and Australia’s economic ties with Asia.

Chris Farnham is the presenter of the National Security Podcast. He joined the National Security College in June 2015 and is currently Senior Outreach and Policy Officer. His career focus has been on geopolitics with experience working in and out of China for a number of years as well as operating in Australia and Southeast Asia.

We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or find us on Facebook. The National Security Podcast and Policy Forum Pod are available on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode of the National Security Podcast, we speak to three leading Indonesia experts about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the country's national security.

How has Indonesia been impacted by COVID-19 and what are the implications for its national security? Has the pandemic offered terrorist organisations opportunities or new challenges? How will this health crisis influence the increased intensity of the conflict in West Papua? And how will the spread of the virus, which first emerged in China, impact the Chinese diaspora in Indonesia? In this episode of National Security Podcast we speak to Sidney Jones, Dr Quinton Temby, and Dr Charlotte Setijadi about the implications of COVID-19 for Indonesia’s national security. This episode is an edited version of a live podcast that was recorded on 21 May 2020.

Sidney Jones is the Director of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict. She has previously held leadership roles at the International Crisis Group and worked with the Ford Foundation, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Charlotte Setijadi is an Assistant Professor of Humanities at the Singapore Management University and co-host of the Talking Indonesia Podcast at the University of Melbourne.

Quinton Temby is a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. He is also a Visiting Fellow at the Department of Political and Social Change at The Australian National University's Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs.

Katherine Mansted is a senior adviser at the National Security College and non-resident fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Previously, she was a commercial solicitor with King & Wood Mallesons, a ministerial adviser to the federal government, and served as an Associate in the High Court of Australia.

Chris Farnham is the presenter of the National Security Podcast. He joined the National Security College in June 2015 and is currently Senior Outreach and Policy Officer. His career focus has been on geopolitics with experience working in and out of China for a number of years as well as operating in Australia and Southeast Asia.

We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or find us on Facebook. The National Security Podcast and Policy Forum Pod are available on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.