No images? Click here 18 June 2025 Australia has been invited to five of the past seven G7 meetings, but the planned sidelines meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was the most highly anticipated part of the trip. However, as the United States announced they were sending aircraft carriers to the Middle East and told everyone in Tehran to evacuate, President Trump cut his time at the G7 short and immediately flew home. Optics can play a role in leading presidents to cancel trips or meetings, like when President Biden cancelled his May 2023 trip to Australia for the Quad Summit to stay and focus on negotiations to avert a US Government shutdown. However, in this case, it seems to speak directly to the urgency and level of risk the escalating tensions in the Middle East pose. President Trump convened a meeting in the Situation Room and has called for all people to leave Tehran. While it is unclear whether the United States will become directly involved in the fighting between Israel and Iran, it sounds like the administration is at least warming to the idea. Potential US intervention has become a flashpoint within the MAGA movement, with Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene criticising President Trump’s push for involvement and Laura Loomer attacking them in turn. If Trump takes an interventionist approach in the Middle East and the MAGA followers end up supportive, it may bring greater alignment between the MAGA and neo-conservative wings of the Republican Party. This could, ultimately, strengthen the Republican majority in Congress as they negotiate legislation on foreign and domestic issues, which would have a far more lasting effect than executive orders. As USSC CEO Dr Michael Green recently noted, “Executive orders can be overturned in 20 minutes by the next president.” Lead image: As the United States announced they were sending aircraft carriers to the Middle East and told everyone in Tehran to evacuate, President Trump cut his time at the G7 short. "AMERICA FIRST means many GREAT things, including the fact that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON."President Donald Trump on Truth Social | 16 June 2025 Recent content from us
Our experts in the newsThe Australian | Alliances, resources central to future national security CEO Dr Michael Green spoke at The Australian's Defending Australia conference on Monday. He noted that the AUKUS review, "put a premium on Australia’s ability to articulate its strategy and to explain what Canberra is doing to make it succeed." Sky News | Donald Trump snubbing Anthony Albanese wake up call to 'get our house in order' Senior Economics Adviser Dr John Kunkel spoke to Sky News about Prime Minister Albanese's cancelled meeting with President Trump, saying, "I suggest we take this opportunity to come back and actually look at the context in which we are now operating internationally." SBS | Israel bombs Iran and Trump takes on LASBS News spoke to Senior Lecturer in American Studies Kathryn Robison on US President Donald Trump calling on the National Guard, and his relationship with Elon Musk. The Nightly | Defence, tariff talk on cards for Anthony Albanese in high-stakes G7 summit meet with Donald TrumpThe Nightly reports that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese must pull off a high-stakes charm offensive this weekend as he heads to Canada for an expected first meeting with US President Donald Trump to thrash out major differences over trade and defence. The article quotes Research Fellow Tom Corben. Upcoming events CONFERENCESydney International Strategy Forum 2025: Navigating DisruptionFrom tariffs to artificial intelligence, one word best sums up 2025: disruption. President Donald Trump’s first 100 days featured norm-breaking policies at breakneck pace, often to be overturned days or weeks later. At the same time, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza have entered new eras with high-level negotiations, on-again off-again fighting and a new world order forming in real time to adapt to a changing strategic landscape. The 2024 trend of turfing incumbents has given way to foreign elections that many perceive to be a referendum on US politics. What is the future of the United States’ role in the world? How can governments and businesses plan in the midst of constant change? How should allies and partners approach security challenges in 2025 and beyond? International experts across government, business and research will share their insider insights on the discussions happening in Washington, Tokyo and Canberra and what this means for US allies and partners around the world. Confirmed speakers include:
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