On 25 June, ASPI DC and East-West Center coordinated and moderated a “United States-Australia and Southeast Asia Workshop” in Manila, Philippines. Seven leading experts on Southeast Asia engaged in invigorating discussions on Southeast Asia and the United States-Australia alliance, foreign policy, and security in the region.
This workshop is a part of a greater project with the East-West Center under the Research Innovation & Collaboration Exchange (RICE) initiative, focused on the Southeast Asian Perspectives of the United States-Australia alliance. Stay tuned for more on this project!
Co-hosted by ASPI, CNAS, and RUSI, the third annual AUKUS Trilateral Dialogue took place on 20 and 21 June in Washington, DC. The two-day event brought together representatives from public office, academia, think tanks, and private industry across all three partner countries to discuss the progression, regional reactions, and broader strategic implications of AUKUS Pillars I and II. The dialogue produced robust conversation on key questions, for example, how Pillar II can generate deterrent effects as well as mobilize private capital for national security purposes, how to address workforce and industrial capacity opportunities and challenges, and what is on the horizon for the legislative agenda.
On the evening of 20 June, as part of the TriLateral, ASPI partnered with the Embassy of Australia in Washington to host a reception. Guests engaged in fruitful chatter while enjoying hors d’oeuvres, Australian wine, and the signature drink of the night, the world’s first ‘TriLatini,’ a true celebration in full spirit of the AUKUS partnership. During the second day of the conference, Dr. Nishank Motwani, ASPI DC Senior Analyst, moderated “AUKUS: Taking Stock and Looking Forward”, a public discussion with Senator Tim Kaine, United States Senator, D-VA; Dr. Philip Shetler-Jones, RUSI Senior Research Fellow, Indo-Pacific Security; Madeline Mortelmans, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategies, Plans and Capabilities; Paul Myler, Deputy Head of Mission for the Embassy of Australia, Washington DC; Matthew D. Steinhelfer, AUKUS Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of State; and Dr. Trevor Taylor, Director of the Defence, Industries and Society Programme.
Stay tuned for a more in-depth analysis of some of the key takeaways from the forum.
On 3 May, ASPI DC organized and moderated a Private Investment in Pacific Island States roundtable featuring 10 Pacific island states’ Heads of Mission and more than a dozen representatives from the US investment and private philanthropy sectors.
The conversation—part of the annual Pacific Heads of Mission Conference hosted by the Australian and New Zealand embassies in DC—explored opportunities in critical sectors such as infrastructure, telecommunications, healthcare, and natural resources; and participants discussed innovative financing models, partnership frameworks, and policy intervention prospects for private investment to facilitate sustainable, secure development.
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On 30 May, ASPI DC hosted a productive roundtable discussion on the 2024 Australian Defense Integrated Investment Program (IIP). The event brought together perspectives from both the private and public sectors, aiming to gather critical feedback from the investment community to ensure effective implementation of the program.
The discussion focused on several key areas, including investments in AUKUS Pillar 2 technologies, the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), infrastructure development, human capital flow, and incentives for Australian companies.
By engaging directly with the investment community, ASPI DC aims to refine and enhance the strategies within the IIP, ensuring the program’s effectiveness and alignment with investor expectations and market realities.
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Thank you to everyone who joined ASPI DC for the fourth installment of Policy in the Pub at The Fox and Hounds Lounge in the vibrant Dupont Circle neighborhood.
On May 30, following a roundtable discussion on Australia’s 2024 Defense Integrated Investment Program, distinguished experts from various fields continued their conversations over cocktails and pints—for example, exploring strategies to advance the incubation and integration of defense technologies within the Australian market.
We look forward to seeing familiar and new faces at the next iteration!
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On 7 May, ASPI DC’s program lead for Defense Industrial Base, Trade, Technology, and Innovation, Bronte Munro, led a conversation on AUKUS and tech diplomacy with Partner and Chair of The Asia Group’s Australia Practice, the Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO, Partner and Lead of the Europe and Eurasia practice at Denton’s Global Advisor’s, Albright Stonebridge Group, Ambassador (ret.) Philip T. Reeker, and Minister Defence (Director USA) at the British Embassy in Washington DC, Mark Newton.
The conversation, which took place at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) AI Expo for National Competitiveness and alongside the Ash Carter Exchange, focused on AUKUS as an avenue for tech diplomacy. Tech diplomacy is the practice of collaborating across sectors and across countries to shape the role of technology in our lives and in our world. It is where the fields of business, technology and foreign policy intersect to effectively shape how technology is used.
Panellists highlighted how the industry- government collaboration that AUKUS requires offers not only a robust means for likeminded partners to accelerate innovation in emerging technologies to counter China’s technological advancements, but to ensure unified leadership in standards setting and best practice.
They also underscored the importance of understanding that securing high-tech involves not only being the leaders in its development, but in its commercialisation and the establishment of the rules and norms that govern its use cases. Tech diplomacy is key to building an ecosystem that supports commercialisation, builds trust in technology and protects national security interests. Critically, it requires collaboration between likeminded partners, such as Australia, the US and the UK.
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Thank you to those who joined ASPI DC for the third installment of Policy in the Pub at The Crown & Crow in the popular Logan Circle neighborhood.
On the 2nd of May, attendees hailing from all corners of Washington came together to discuss policy over a pint.
The event merged the perspectives of Australian and American government representatives, think tank experts, fellows, and academics on a variety of topics—for example, how the commercial, governmental, and research sectors of aerospace can better collaborate to achieve common goals.
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ASPI DC is proud to be an official launch partner of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy’s Tech Diplomacy Academy. The non-profit Tech Diplomacy Academy is the world’s first and only online education platform for learning about the intersection of emerging technology, business and foreign policy.
The Tech Diplomacy Academy offers short, one-hour, online, on-demand courses led by acclaimed technology experts, domestic and foreign policy practitioners, and multi-sector industry leaders.
ASPI DC Director Adam Leslie says, “Tech diplomacy is increasingly vital in bridging the gap between technological advancement and international relations. Challenging technology leaps in AI, cybersecurity, and data privacy, require global management.”
“The Krach Institute’s Tech Diplomacy Academy will play an important role in fostering coordinated and equitable tech policies, enhancing global stability and fostering international innovation partnerships.”
Learn more about the world first Tech Diplomacy Academy here.
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On 13 March, ASPI DC welcomed Australian Army Chief Lt. General Simon Stuart, AO, DSC for a roundtable discussion moderated by Senior Analyst Dr Nishank Motwani at the Australian Embassy in Washington, DC.
The discussion explored the changing deterrence dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.
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On 12 April, ASPI DC Senior Analyst Dr Nishank Motwani joined the opening panel at Yale’s inaugural GeoTech Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
The session focused on AI, deterrence, and technology within the framework of AUKUS and featured CSIS Senior Fellow and Australia Chair Dr Charles Edel; Laura Farhall, Minister-Counsellor for Defence Acquisition and Technology; and Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, Senior Director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
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