In this interview, strategist and defence analyst Dr. Peter Layton offers a clear-sighted assessment of how Australia is recalibrating strategy, capability, and partnerships amid intensifying regional competition. Drawing on policy and academic expertise, he probes alliance choices with the United States and Japan, AUKUS and submarine procurement, the Quad and ASEAN engagement, and the trade-offs between economic dependence on China and national security.
Dr. Peter Layton is a Visiting Fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University; an Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI); and a Fellow of the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group. With extensive experience in aviation and defence, he received the US Secretary of Defense’s Exceptional Public Service Medal for his work on force structure at the Pentagon. For his academic research, he was awarded a Fellowship at the European University Institute.
Peter's research interests include grand strategy, national security policies particularly relating to middle powers, defence force structure concepts and the impacts of emerging technology.
00:00 – Introduction
02:00 – Alliances with the US and Japan: Security Gains or Strategic Constraints?
04:16 – Multilateralism in Australia’s Security Strategy
07:02 – AUKUS and the Future of Australian Defence
15:50 – Submarine Procurement: Strategic Rationale and Implications
23:02 – The Quad and Australia’s Security Role
29:54 – Making the Quad More Effective and Productive
33:03 – Security Cooperation with ASEAN: Opportunities and Limits
41:52 – Managing the Dual Relationship with China: Economics vs Security
50:26 – Assessing the 2024 National Defence Strategy and Middle-Power Vulnerabilities
55:51 – Military Spending: Balancing Capability and Sustainability
01:01:06 – Diversifying Australia’s Defence Supply Chains
01:07:52 – Under-Researched Dimensions of Australia’s Security
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