For the past three years, the United States Studies Centre (USSC) and Japan Foundation have partnered to deliver the Japan-Australia Dialogue and Exchange for Next Generation, or JADE, program. However, this year is particularly meaningful as the two countries celebrate 50 years since the signing of the NARA Treaty, establishing formal relations between the two countries that has now developed into a special strategic partnership. This week we welcomed our latest cohort of JADE Fellows, but also took the opportunity to celebrate this milestone through co-hosting an Australia-Japan symposium with the Japan Foundation, which featured each country’s respective ambassador.

Earlier this month, the USSC convened scholars of American Studies from around the world to host the Australian and New Zealand American Studies Association (ANZASA) conference. The discussion this year took on a new level dynamism as professors from the United States shared their changing experience and as the role of the United States in the world has rapidly changed.

We decided that this emphasis on major geopolitical changes, shifting alliances and disruption of global power – much with the United States at the centre – should be the focus for our annual Sydney International Strategy Forum (SISF). The theme for this year is: Alliances in an age of disorder. In honour of the 75^th birthday of the ANZUS Treaty, we are delighted to welcome our largest and most high-profile line up yet. Rather than shying away from the big questions, we will delve right in as we look to find solutions to the most vexing issues across foreign policy, economics and technology. SISF 2026 will even include a debate on the stage of the conference. We hope you can join us this year. Tickets are going quickly and today is the last day for earlybird tickets, so book yours now so you do not miss out.

Sydney International Strategy Forum 2026

Last day for early bird tickets

From the Iran War to energy markets and Chinese ballistic missile tests in the Pacific, 2026 has been a year marked by disruption and disorder.

In its 75th year, the ANZUS Treaty remains a source of stability enhanced by strengthened ties among like-minded partners across the Indo-Pacific. Yet questions are also growing about the trajectory of American power, Chinese intentions towards Taiwan, the impact of the trans-Atlantic rift, and the growing weaponisation of economic interdependence.

Will ANZUS and the alliances in the Indo-Pacific be overwhelmed by this disorder or stand as a collective breakwater?

Join us to analyse, debate and interpret these dynamics in real time with leading experts from the United States, Australia and the Indo-Pacific at the 4th annual Sydney International Strategy Forum.

A growing panel of renowned speakers is joining us - including:

• Dr Kurt Campbell | Chairman and Co-Founder of The Asia Group and former US Deputy Secretary of State
• Dr Janine Davidson | President of Metropolitan State University of Denver and former US Under Secretary of the Navy
• The Hon. Randall Schriver | Chairman of the Board at The Institute for Indo-Pacific Security and former US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs
• Peter Varghese AO | Chancellor at the University of Queensland and former Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Prof. Nobukatsu Kanehara | Executive Director of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation
• Bilahari Kausikan | Singaporean academic and former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore
• Mike Pezzullo | Former Secretary of the Australian Department of Home Affairs
• Assoc. Prof. Sheena Chestnut Greitens | Associate Professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and Director of the University of Texas’ Asia Policy Program
• Dr I-Chung Lai | President of the Prospect Foundation​​​​​​​

News

JADE Fellows in Sydney

This week, the USSC welcomed the latest cohort of Japan-Australia Dialogue and Exchange for Next Generation fellows in Sydney. Five fellows from Japan have been travelling around Australia this week for meetings and roundtable discussions with government, academic and industry institutions to share insights on Australia’s foreign, defence and economic policymaking processes. The JADE program is supported by the Japan Foundation. Later this year, the Japan Foundation will host a symposium in honour of the 50^th anniversary of the NARA Treaty, which will include some of the JADE fellows.

ANZASA Conference: Doing American studies outside the United States

Across three days in July, the USSC and the Australian and New Zealand American Studies Association invited scholars to participate in a conference exploring the practice, pedagogy and politics of American Studies beyond US borders. The conference centred scholars working in and on the Australiasian/Indo-Pacific region and featured keynote speakers:

• Dr Christopher Capozzola, Professor of History, MacVicar Faculty Fellow and Senior Associate Dean for Open Learning at MIT
• Dr Chih-Ming Wang, Research Fellow (Professor) and Deputy Director, Institute of European and American Studies, Academia Sinica
• Dr Lily Wong, Associate Professor in the Departments of Literature and Critical Race, Gender and Culture Studies at American University

Celebrating 50 years of Australia-Japan relations

This year, Australia and Japan celebrate 50 years since signing the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation between Japan and Australia. In honour of this occasion, the USSC  and Japan Foundation co-hosted an Australia-Japan symposium featuring Japanese Ambassador to Australia Suzuki Kazuhiro and Australian Ambassador to Japan Andrew Shearer. This was followed by an evening panel discussion, presented in collaboration between the USSC, Japan Foundation and University of Sydney School of Languages and Cultures. The discussion featured former Japanese Ambassador to Australia Mr Sumio Kusaka; Professor at Keio University and Director of Research at The Institute of Geoeconomics, International House of Japan Dr Yuichi Hosoya; USSC Director of Economic Security Hayley Channer and USSC Research Fellow Tom Corben for a conversation moderated by USSC CEO Dr Michael Green.

New Generation Warfare and Australian-US alliance futures roundtable

Earlier this month, the USSC hosted a closed-door roundtable discussion with Henry Sokolski, Executive Director of the Nonproliferation Policy Center. The roundtable focused on three main areas: strategic implications of China’s emerging convention intercontinental ballistic missile capability; how advances in areas such as drones and cyber operations might compress decision making timelines and heighten risks of rapid escalation; and the policy dilemma’s these capabilities present. Attendees discussed the implications for the United States and its allies as they seek to adapt and shape a “new generation warfare.”

Impact of Supreme Court rulings on Trump 2.0

From striking down President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs to upholding birthright citizenship, the US Supreme Court docket this term made history. USSC hosted a special event featuring co-host of ABC’s Planet America Chas Licciardello and USSC Honorary Associate Dr Harry Melconian in conversation with USSC Director of Economic Security Hayley Channer to discuss these decisions and their impact on the power of the presidency.

Track 1.5 workshop on Asia’s energy security

Today, USSC hosted a Track 1.5 workshop titled: Asia’s energy security in a shifting global order. Attendees included a mix of government, industry and expert stakeholders from Australia, Korea and the United States. The workshop looked at the impact of geopolitics on global energy security, Australia’s role and prospects for an Asian energy security alliance.

Alliance workshops held in Queensland and Northern Territory

This month, our National Engagement on the Future of the Alliance program continued its qualitative discussions about the US-Australia relationship with events in Brisbane and Darwin. This program explores how everyday Australians view the alliance with the United States to surface the ideas, concerns and interests shaping the debate beyond the Canberra bubble. Led by USSC Senior Fellow Professor Benjamin Reilly, the findings from this work will be published later this year.

Building a more resilient Pacific: The allies and partners agenda

The Pacific Islands are increasingly an arena of strategic competition between global powers. Yet amid these geopolitical circumstances, the challenges the Pacific Island countries themselves face are often overlooked. While many nations provide important development assistance to the region, such efforts are often duplicative, poorly implemented and sometimes even counterproductive. USSC hosted CSIS Senior Fellow and Deputy Director with the Australia Chair Kathryn Paik, Lowy Institute FDC Pacific Research Fellow Serena Sasingian, USSC Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Dr Lavina Lee and Macquarie University researcher Ryosuke Hanada, in a conversation moderated by ABC Foreign Affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic to look at the role of allies and partners in the Pacific.

The making of America's first Pacific Century: A conversation with historian Christopher Capozzola

Following the ANZASA Conference, USSC hosted a special event with keynote speaker MIT Professor of History Christopher Capozzola in conversation with USSC CEO Dr Michael Green. They explored the history of the United States in the Indo-Pacific and how the US-Philippines alliance, specifically, has shaped a century of US foreign policy.

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Student event

Student opportunities and awards

American Studies scholarships still available

Semester 2 is just beginning and USSC scholarships and prizes are still available. Including a $5,000 Undergraduate Indigenous Scholarship and $6,500 in prizes for our highest achieving students. Applications for the Indigenous Scholarship close on 28 August.

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