In December 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law and had military troops surround the National Assembly before reversing that decision following an immediate backlash and widespread protests. On 4 April 2025, South Korea’s Constitutional Court announced its verdict to uphold the impeachment of President Yoon, ending 18 weeks of political uncertainty in Seoul. With President Yoon removed from office, South Korea is gearing up for a snap election.

What are the ramifications of the impeachment verdict? What might this mean for the future of Korea’s engagement in the region? What is at stake in the upcoming Korean presidential election? 

To discuss these questions, USSC Research Fellow Tom Corben and Research Associate Kester Abbott joined Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck on the USSC Briefing Room Podcast. Tom coordinated a Track 1.5 workshop in Canberra with Korean and Australian representatives and Kester was on the subsequent delegation in Korea when martial law was declared.

Recommended reading:

Australia–Republic of Korea Dialogue on Security Cooperation outcomes report

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

When US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz set up a Signal group chat to coordinate principals for discussions on a US strike on the Houthis in Yemen, he had no idea that the Editor in Chief for The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, was part of the chat and would later share the content of their group chat with the world.

Former White House National Security Council Senior Director for Asia and USSC CEO Dr Michael Green and USSC Lecturer in American Studies Dr Kathryn Robison joined the podcast to give a breakdown of Signalgate, what it tells us about technology and intelligence sharing and what it means for intelligence relationships moving forward.

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

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A critical component and potential vulnerability of AUKUS is Australia’s manufacturing capability. And even beyond AUKUS, the 2023 Defence Strategic Review cited the need for a whole-of-nation uplift in manufacturing and investment to fulfil Australia’s defence objectives.

What is the state of play for defence manufacturing and investment in Australia? What changes are needed? How could the change in government in the United States impact Australia’s approach to defence production?

International Fellow with Silicon Valley Defense Group Bronte Munro and USSC Non-Resident Fellow Sophie Mayo joined Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck on the USSC Briefing Room to discuss these questions and Munro’s recent brief: Reviving industry: How the Australian Government can be a better customer to the manufacturing sector.

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

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Since President Trump took office for a second time on 20 January 2025, he has driven an unprecedented level of sweeping governmental change. One of the first and most drastic changes was to the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The Trump administration has cancelled the majority USAID contracts, eliminated 1,600 positions and almost the entire workforce is on administrative leave.

What is USAID and why was it a target for major cuts by Trump? Are these changes permissible within the powers of the Executive branch? What impacts could this have globally?

USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Lester Munson joins Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck on the podcast to discuss these questions. Munson formerly served as Deputy Assistant Administrator of USAID.

You may also like Leter Munson’s recent write-up The new game in aid: Deal power.

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

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Dr Mara Karlin joined us on the USSC Briefing Rood podcast to talk about her book The Inheritance: America’s Military After Two Decades of War. 

What impact did the extended wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have on the US military? What lessons have been learned since this time? And how prepared is the US now for future wars?

Dr Karlin discussed these questions and the conclusions she reached in her book with Mari Koeck, USSC Director of Engagement and Impact.

Dr Karlin is a Professor of Practice at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). She has served in national security roles for six US Secretaries of Defense, and most recently served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities.

You may also want to watch Dr Karlin at USSC’s Sydney International Strategy Forum 2024:

• How do we approach the security challenges of 2025?
• What we need to know about the new Trump administration

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

Three years ago, Russian troops invaded Ukraine with air strikes and a ground invasion from the North towards Kyiv, the South from Crimea and the East from the Donbas. Many expected Ukraine to have to surrender almost immediately and give up significant territory to Russia. However, global allies quickly united to support Ukraine through providing weapons and constraining Russia through severe sanctions. The war has lingered on and is the deadliest conflict in Europe since the Second World War.

Now, President Trump is pushing for talks to end the war, but the focus has primarily been on improving the relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

What might peace look like in a negotiated treaty? Who benefits most from this outcome? What message does this send to countries around the world? 

Dr Gorana Grgic, Senior Lecturer in US politics and Foreign Policy and Senior Researcher with the Swiss and Euro-Atlantic Security team at the ETH Zürich’s Center for Security Studies discussed these questions with Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck as we mark three years of the war in Ukraine.

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

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Around the time of President Trump’s first indictment, USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe released his latest book, Trump’s Australia: How Trumpism changed Australia and the shocking consequences for us of a second term. Now, less than two years later, President Trump was elected again, this time as a convicted felon. Bruce has just released an updated version of his book following the election, What Trump’s Second Term Means for Australia.

What changes will we see in the United States during a second Trump term? How will his emphasis on protectionism, nativism and isolationism impact Australia? What issues will most greatly impact US allies and partners around the world?

Bruce sat down with USSC Director of Impact and Engagement Mari Koeck to discuss these questions and his updated book as we look ahead at the next four years.

If you enjoyed this discussion, you may also want to watch the recording of Bruce at USSC’s Sydney International Strategy Forum 2024:

• What you need to know about the new US Congress

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

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As President Trump commences his second term in office, he faces a far more contested geopolitical environment than during his first term. From an unresolved war in Ukraine to the war in Gaza, many items will be on Trump’s foreign policy agenda whether he likes it or not.

How could he seek to end the war in Ukraine? What level of priority should be placed on relations with China? What should allies and partners do to work with this new administration on foreign policy priorities?

Heino Klinck joined the USSC Briefing Room podcast to discuss these questions with USSC Director of Impact and Engagement Mari Koeck. Heino is a global strategist, business executive, retired US Army colonel and defence policy expert. Importantly, he served in the first Trump administration.

NB: This episode was recorded before the Israel-Hamas ceasefire was announced.

If you enjoyed this discussion, you may also want to watch the recordings of Heino at USSC’s Sydney International Strategy Forum 2024:

·      What we need to know about the new Trump administration

·      How do we approach the security challenges of 2025?

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat

India has accelerated port infrastructure projects to counter China’s Belt and Road initiative and enhanced connectivity and trade facilitation could boost GDP from 0.4% to 10.6% in South Asia. In an era of heightened competition, improved port infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to diversify and de-risk supply chains, yet Australia has been notably absent from Indian Ocean infrastructure projects.

What are the risks if China has a monopoly on port improvements in the Indian Ocean? What difference could Australia’s expertise make for port development? How would improved ports help Australia, America and other allies and partners?

Maitri Fellow Riya Sinha sat down with Director of Research Jared Mondschein to discuss these issues and her new report: Building bridges across the Indian Ocean: Australia-India cooperation for port development.

Sinha’s Maitri Fellowship was supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

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When talking about AUKUS, a majority of Australians think it is a good idea for Australia to have nuclear-powered submarines, but much of the public debate is around the cost and whether it is worth the money. One of the most significant aspects of AUKUS is the fact that the United States is agreeing to share some of its most sensitive nuclear technology with Australia, but this requires not just a strong foundation of trust between the two countries, but a regulatory and industrial ecosystem to support it.

What do Australia, the UK and the United States get out of the technology transfer in AUKUS? What changes are needed in the defence industrial base to support this? What are the biggest challenges facing defence industrial cooperation and integration between the US and Australia?

To discuss these questions, we welcomed director of the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group and a senior fellow in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Cynthia Cook to the USSC Briefing Room. Cynthia is director of the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group and a senior fellow in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). She has widely published on defence acquisition policy and technology development. She recently visited Australia to participate in USSC’s “Next Generation Leaders in the Australia-US Alliance initiative" and was supported by funding from the US State Department.

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Produced by: Elliott Brennan

Music by Dan Phillipson, licensed through PremiumBeat