Why Modi Keeps Coming Back to Australia
Narendra Modi visited Australia from 8 to 10 July 2026 for his third visit as India’s prime minister. His previous visits took place in 2014 and 2023. The frequency is striking. Before Modi arrived in 2014, no Indian prime minister had made a bilateral visit to Australia for 28 years. During that first trip, he […]
What the US Technology Upgrade for the UAE Means for International Defence Companies
When I saw the announcement that the United States was giving the United Arab Emirates more favourable access to certain advanced technologies, I was curious. The UAE already enjoys a close defence relationship with Washington, as does Australia. So why did the announcement matter, and what would it actually change for companies operating in international […]
The New Geopolitical Map of the Internet Is Under the Ocean
The next phase of global business is being shaped by infrastructure most executives never see. Undersea cables form the backbone of the global internet. They carry the vast majority of the world’s international internet traffic and support the systems that modern companies depend on every day: banking, cloud computing, logistics, customer service, e-commerce, remote work, digital trade and, increasingly, artificial intelligence.
China’s Missile Test Is a Business Signal, Not Just a Defence Story
China has just test-fired a nuclear-capable ballistic missile into the South Pacific. For Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the wider region, this is not just another defence headline. It is a reminder that the strategic environment in the Pacific is changing, and that change has consequences well beyond government and defence circles.
The Strait of Hormuz Is Still a Business Risk
Iran is back in the headlines this week, as Tehran holds a state funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But for business leaders, the real story is not the funeral. It is what is happening at sea. Because several weeks after the ceasefire was signed, the Strait of Hormuz is still not operating normally.
The EU–Australia Trade Deal: Why Execution Will Define Success for European Consumer Goods and Manufacturers
The agriculture component of the EU–Australia trade agreeme For European consumer goods and manufacturing firms, the EU–Australia trade agreement presents a clear but often misunderstood opportunity. Much of the attention tends to focus on tariffs and improved market access, but in practice, these are only part of the equation. Commercial outcomes in Australia are shaped […]
The EU–Australia Trade Deal: Opportunity for European Food Exporters – With Important Caveats
The agriculture component of the EU–Australia trade agreement has been among the most contested aspects of the negotiation. In Australia, many farming groups have been openly critical of the outcome. Concerns have centred on the scale of market access granted to European producers, the treatment of sensitive sectors, and the perceived imbalance between concessions made […]
The EU–Australia Trade Deal: A Strategic Opening for European Services and Digital Firms
For European companies, the EU–Australia trade agreement is often viewed through the lens of goods. But for services and digital businesses, that lens is incomplete. The agreement introduces a set of provisions that directly affect how these firms operate across borders – not only in entering Australia, but in structuring their broader Asia-Pacific presence. Digital […]
The EU–Australia Trade Deal: A Strategic Gateway to Asia-Pacific
The EU–Australia Free Trade Agreement marks more than the conclusion of a long negotiation. It introduces a new operating framework for European companies engaging with one of the world’s most stable and strategically positioned economies. Much of the discussion has focused on market access into Europe. For European firms, the more relevant question runs in […]
Why China’s Industrial Power Matters More Than Tariffs
As President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week, headlines have focused on tariffs, Taiwan, artificial intelligence, and the war in Iran. But beneath the diplomatic theatre lies a deeper reality shaping the global economy: the United States and China remain profoundly interconnected through industrial supply chains.
