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30 January 2026
January usually brings about a slower pace in Australia as workers across all sectors travel and take time off before the end of school holidays. However, this January has proved to be, quite possibly, the busiest in the history of the United States Studies Centre (USSC), publishing three reports, one brief, one explainer and a special book series.
This swell of activity is fitting for a year that will be one for the history books for the Centre. In 2026, we celebrate 20 years since the founding of USSC, 75 years of the US-Australia alliance and 250 years since American independence. All this while we grapple with news coming from the United States that raises many questions and begs for evidence-based analysis.
In addition to our normal publications, events and activities across our four research pillars: Foreign Policy and Defence; Economic Security; Strategic Technologies; and Politics, Society and Culture – this year we will also bring you special events and publications featuring USSC alumni, historians and key leaders from pivotal moments in the history of the alliance.
To start the year strong, we are delighted to share the launch of the Alliance Handbook Series in partnership with the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS). These books contain the key documents that support the relationships between the United States, Australia and Japan. In an era of disinformation and divisive rhetoric, it becomes significantly more important to go back to original sources. These books serve as a reference guide for anyone researching or seeking to understand what these essential partnerships are based on and what this means both in 2026 and in the years and decades ahead. Through collaboration with YCAPS, free digital versions are available online. See below for how you can obtain a copy.
We hope you can join us for one of our many events across the year. If you would like to share your reflections on the USSC, the US-Australia alliance or the United States at 250, please drop us a line at: ussc.media@sydney.edu.au.
News
Australia’s next US ambassador’s strong ties to USSC
Congratulations to Secretary of the Department of Defence Greg Moriarty on his nomination to serve as Australia’s next Ambassador to the United States. We have had the privilege of working closely with Secretary Moriarty, especially in his capacity as an invited attendee at Board meetings for the Centre. His diplomatic experience, strategic thinking and deep understanding of Australia's relationship with the United States make him the perfect fit to represent Australia and build strong relationships with Washington at this time. We wish him all the best in the journey ahead and look forward to continue working closely with him in this new capacity.
Economics and defence innovation experts join USSC as non-resident fellows
We are delighted to welcome Dr Naoise McDonagh and Adeline Williams as new non-resident fellows at the USSC. Dr McDonagh is MBA Director and Senior Lecturer in Geopolitics and International Business and Law at Edith Cowan University and he brings extensive research experience from how geopolitical tensions are transforming the world economy. Adeline Williams is Commercial Director at the NSW Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility. Prior to this she worked closely with the USSC on AUKUS issues when she led the University of Sydney’s Defence portfolio.
Their respective areas of expertise are well placed to address some of the most pressing issues of the day from tariffs to the future of AUKUS.
Last day to apply for Semester 1 internships!
Our Semester 1, 2026 internship program offers students the chance to contribute meaningfully to research at the intersection of policy and practice.
The internship program goes beyond theory. Under the guidance of Dr Kathryn Robison, Lecturer in American Studies, you’ll combine academic knowledge with practical experience, bridging the gap between learning and doing.
You’ll work on real-world challenges alongside professionals, learning how to apply research in a dynamic environment. This program is designed to build your expertise while refining your professional skills, from communication and teamwork to time management. By the end, you won’t just have knowledge — you’ll have the confidence and competence to make it count.
Cross-institutional study is considered on a case-by-case basis. Apply separately through the cross-institutional admissions process. For undergraduate cross-institutional admissions, click here. For postgraduate cross-institutional admissions, click here.
If you are interested, act quickly. Today is the last day to apply for Semester 1 internships.
First event of 2026
This week we hosted our first event of the year: Securing the Indian Ocean: India-Australia maritime partnership. Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Dr Lavina Lee moderated a conversation with Maitri Fellow Rushali Saha about the challenges and opportunities for India and Australia to coordinate efforts to boost security in the Indian Ocean Region. At the event, Rushali launched her new report on the topic. You can watch a replay of the event here and you may also enjoy our recent USSC Briefing Room podcast episode India’s changing relationships with the United States, China, Russia and Australia, featuring Rushali.
This Maitri Fellowship was supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Launch of the Alliance Handbook Series
In honour of the 75th anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty, the USSC is proud to announce its collaboration with the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies on the release of the Alliance Handbook Series. Containing the agreements, core instruments, and related documents that underpin important security relationships in the region, these books provide scholars, practitioners, and other observers key insights for work and research.
The series includes the following (with forewords by USSC CEO Michael J. Green):
Hard copies are available to purchase here:
New qualitative research on the alliance
Another activity this year in honour of the milestone year for the US-Australia alliance is the National Engagement on the Future of the Alliance project. The USSC is known for its quantitative polling on Australian attitudes of the alliance, but this year, we want to couple this data with qualitative insights too. This year, the USSC will run a series of national conversations across Australia on the Australia-US Alliance, the defining security relationship for our country in an era of unprecedented change in the international order and the politics of the United States. The National Engagement on the Future of the Alliance will conduct public consultations in each state and territory.
Led by Prof. Benjamin Reilly, the aim of each consultation will be to engage with Australians from different backgrounds about how they conceive of and experience the alliance. This will illuminate the national contours of thinking on the alliance and the public understanding and acceptance which underpins it. The findings will be shared in a final report later this year.
Recent content from us
REPORTAustralia’s economic security outlook: Trends and possible responses for 2026In December 2025, the USSC Economic Security program hosted its annual Track 2 meeting of Australian former officials, think tank analysts, academics and private-sector professionals to consider global economic security trends and what they mean for Australia. In this report Director of Economic Security Hayley Channer and Research Fellow Robert Monterosso share the key themes and findings from this dialogue. |
REPORTMissiles and multipolarity: Can an Indo-Pacific coalition defeat China’s missile overmatch?In 2025, USSC convened a tabletop exercise that brought together experts from Japan, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States (JASTU) to test strategies for coordinated IAMD operations in a conflict with China. In this report authors Research Fellow Dr Christopher J. Watterson and Senior Adviser for Defence Strategy Professor Peter J. Dean share the findings from the tabletop exercise. |
REPORTSecuring the Indian Ocean: Elevating the India-Australia maritime partnershipUSSC Maitri Fellow Rushali Saha assesses the increasing maritime threats in the Indian Ocean Region and opportunities for Australia and India to work together for mutual benefit in this new report. |
PODCASTUSSC Briefing Room | Adm. Lisa Franchetti (ret’d) on the future of US military leadershipWhen visiting Australia in November, Admiral Franchetti (ret’d) joined Research Fellow Tom Corben on the podcast to discuss: What has changed in the global security environment from the Cold War to now? |
BRIEFImpact and effort: A menu of AI and autonomy options for AUKUS Pillar IINon-Resident Fellow Sophie Mayo explores options for advancing AI and autonomous (unmanned) capability development through AUKUS Pillar II to meet the most urgent operational challenges confronting the three partners in the Indo-Pacific in this new brief. |
PODCASTUSSC Briefing Room | India’s changing relationships with the United States, China, Russia and AustraliaUSSC Maitri Fellow Rushali Saha joined Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck on the podcast to discuss the tumultuous year in Indian diplomacy and where it stands in relationship to the United States, Australia, China and Russia. |
Upcoming events
PUBLIC FORUM
Australia-Taiwan relations: What are the policy options and priorities for engagement?
Join us for the launch of a USSC major report on the Australia-Taiwan relationship, examining its scope, limits, and opportunities across the economic, diplomatic and defence domains.
Panellists:
- Rachel Noble PSM, former Director General, Australian Signals Directorate
- Professor Nick Bisley, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Professor of International Relations, La Trobe University
- Professor Caitlin Byrne, Pro Vice Chancellor (Business), Griffith University
- Professor Peter Dean, Senior Adviser for Defence Strategy, United States Studies Centre and Professor of Strategic Studies, Australian National University
Moderated by Professor Bec Strating, Director of the La Trobe Centre for Global Security and Professor of International Relations, La Trobe University.
5 February 2026
5:30-8:00pm AEDTAustralian National University, Canberra Theatre 2 (T2), Upper Level, Lowitja O'Donoghue Cultural Centre, Tangney Rd, Acton ACT 2601
Cost: Free, but registration is essential
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University of Sydney NSW 2006
