Richard Dunley
@redunley.bsky.social
Naval & diplomatic historian with a side gig in maritime strategy | Senior Lecturer at UNSWCanberra
| #PomInOz
| #PomInOz
Pinned
Richard Dunley
@redunley.bsky.social
· Nov 12
Plan B?: Reconsidering Australian Security in the event of a post US alliance era
The rise of China combined with a growing “America First” approach to US foreign policy has generated a debate in Australia about the status of the alliance with the United States. This article con...
www.tandfonline.com
As the debate over what Trump 2.0 means for allies and partners kicks off in earnest I thought I’d re-up this article from earlier in the year about the challenges of 🇦🇺 security beyond the 🇺🇸 alliance.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
On first glance this move by European nations to enforce existing laws and regulations re the shadow fleet looks to be an excellent step, and a potential positive outcome from the arguably more destabilising US moves.
www.navylookout.com/european-coa...
www.navylookout.com/european-coa...
European coastal states warn Russian shadow fleet over Baltic and North Sea safety - Navy Lookout
European coastal states, including the UK, have issued a coordinated warning to the international maritime community over unsafe and deceptive practices linked to Russian maritime activity in the Balt...
www.navylookout.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:04 AM
On first glance this move by European nations to enforce existing laws and regulations re the shadow fleet looks to be an excellent step, and a potential positive outcome from the arguably more destabilising US moves.
www.navylookout.com/european-coa...
www.navylookout.com/european-coa...
Extremely powerful speech by Carney.
It will be interesting to see if/how the Australian government responds.
I suspect they will keep on putting the sign in the window…
paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...
It will be interesting to see if/how the Australian government responds.
I suspect they will keep on putting the sign in the window…
paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...
The Carney doctrine
Open comment thread on the PM's Davos speech
paulwells.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Extremely powerful speech by Carney.
It will be interesting to see if/how the Australian government responds.
I suspect they will keep on putting the sign in the window…
paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...
It will be interesting to see if/how the Australian government responds.
I suspect they will keep on putting the sign in the window…
paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...
Armed sailing vessels - wouldn’t have been on my bingo card ten years ago!
www.defensenews.com/naval/2026/0...
www.defensenews.com/naval/2026/0...
Saildrone, Lockheed to place missile launchers on naval drones
Larger Saildrone USVs are also under consideration to carry Lockheed Martin weaponry, such as the Mk 70 Vertical Launching System.
www.defensenews.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Armed sailing vessels - wouldn’t have been on my bingo card ten years ago!
www.defensenews.com/naval/2026/0...
www.defensenews.com/naval/2026/0...
Interesting UK justification for seizure of tanker in N Atlantic. As others have noted it is framed very differently from 🇺🇸.
In doing so it raises real questions about whether 🇬🇧 is serious in its efforts to counter the “shadow fleet”, and if so why stop here…
In doing so it raises real questions about whether 🇬🇧 is serious in its efforts to counter the “shadow fleet”, and if so why stop here…
January 7, 2026 at 11:20 PM
Interesting UK justification for seizure of tanker in N Atlantic. As others have noted it is framed very differently from 🇺🇸.
In doing so it raises real questions about whether 🇬🇧 is serious in its efforts to counter the “shadow fleet”, and if so why stop here…
In doing so it raises real questions about whether 🇬🇧 is serious in its efforts to counter the “shadow fleet”, and if so why stop here…
Interested to see the specific legal framing of this action by 🇬🇧.
Are they challenging the validity of the transfer to 🇷🇺 flag, or is it something else?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Are they challenging the validity of the transfer to 🇷🇺 flag, or is it something else?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
US seizes two 'ghost fleet' tankers linked to Venezuelan oil
The ships were boarded by US forces in predawn operations in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea.
www.bbc.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Interested to see the specific legal framing of this action by 🇬🇧.
Are they challenging the validity of the transfer to 🇷🇺 flag, or is it something else?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Are they challenging the validity of the transfer to 🇷🇺 flag, or is it something else?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Richard Dunley
"Latvia finds no link between ship and Baltic cable breach, probe goes on."
This is a helpful reminder of two defining features of the critical undersea infrastructure (CUI) challenge.
This is a helpful reminder of two defining features of the critical undersea infrastructure (CUI) challenge.
Latvia finds no link between ship and Baltic cable breach, probe goes on
Latvian police have found no evidence linking a ship docked in the port of Liepaja to damage to an underwater telecoms cable running in the Baltic Sea from Latvia to Lithuania, but are investigating t...
www.reuters.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:46 AM
"Latvia finds no link between ship and Baltic cable breach, probe goes on."
This is a helpful reminder of two defining features of the critical undersea infrastructure (CUI) challenge.
This is a helpful reminder of two defining features of the critical undersea infrastructure (CUI) challenge.
The Ego Based Order
WH sources say Venezuela's opposition leader committed the "ultimate sin": She accepted the Nobel Peace prize.
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” one said.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” one said.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
January 5, 2026 at 7:09 AM
The Ego Based Order
Latest episode of #MaritimeMatters is out. @japarker29.bsky.social & I discuss 🇺🇦 attacks on shadow fleet, 🇺🇸 seizure of tankers, and Hanwha-Austal
soundcloud.com/maritimematt...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZGh...
soundcloud.com/maritimematt...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZGh...
Episode 39: Ukraine and Venezuelan Shadow Fleets & Hanwha-Austal
Maritime Matters Episode Title: Ukraine and Venezuelan Shadow Fleets & Hanwha-Austal
In this episode of Maritime Matters Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (
soundcloud.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Latest episode of #MaritimeMatters is out. @japarker29.bsky.social & I discuss 🇺🇦 attacks on shadow fleet, 🇺🇸 seizure of tankers, and Hanwha-Austal
soundcloud.com/maritimematt...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZGh...
soundcloud.com/maritimematt...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZGh...
The announcements of the past few days leave little room but to conclude that this US administration is deeply unserious about meeting the challenge posed by the rapid expansion of the PLAN.
Vanity projects and CG cutters painted grey ain’t going to cut it.
Vanity projects and CG cutters painted grey ain’t going to cut it.
December 23, 2025 at 6:45 AM
The announcements of the past few days leave little room but to conclude that this US administration is deeply unserious about meeting the challenge posed by the rapid expansion of the PLAN.
Vanity projects and CG cutters painted grey ain’t going to cut it.
Vanity projects and CG cutters painted grey ain’t going to cut it.
December 23, 2025 at 2:00 AM
This appears to be a massive escalation - the previous seizure could be justified under international law because the vessel was stateless. This doesn’t seem to be the case here. 1/2
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
US seizes vessel in international waters off Venezuela's coast, officials say
The move comes after US President Donald Trump ordered a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
www.bbc.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:44 AM
This appears to be a massive escalation - the previous seizure could be justified under international law because the vessel was stateless. This doesn’t seem to be the case here. 1/2
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Boom defences are back… or at least they should be!
December 15, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Boom defences are back… or at least they should be!
I don’t think that anyone would deny that there have been numerous governance failures at Aus unis, but it pretty steep for politicians to attack “corporate unis” when the funding models they have enacted have driven precisely the behaviours and culture they critique.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
'Dirty secret' of higher education revealed as senate inquiry calls on universities to change
The final report into governance has called for state and Commonwealth legislation to refocus universities on teaching and research.
www.abc.net.au
December 11, 2025 at 9:02 AM
I don’t think that anyone would deny that there have been numerous governance failures at Aus unis, but it pretty steep for politicians to attack “corporate unis” when the funding models they have enacted have driven precisely the behaviours and culture they critique.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
It must be very odd from the perspective of Japan, Korea, Vietnam or the Philippines watching the hysteria in Canberra over the possible deployment of PLAN vessels somewhere near Australia.
I am not saying it doesn't matter - but it highlights how remote we remain from the region's challenges
I am not saying it doesn't matter - but it highlights how remote we remain from the region's challenges
December 3, 2025 at 4:05 AM
It must be very odd from the perspective of Japan, Korea, Vietnam or the Philippines watching the hysteria in Canberra over the possible deployment of PLAN vessels somewhere near Australia.
I am not saying it doesn't matter - but it highlights how remote we remain from the region's challenges
I am not saying it doesn't matter - but it highlights how remote we remain from the region's challenges
The latest episode of #MaritimeMatters is out 🚢🎙️
@japarker29.bsky.social and I talk RPDs, 🇺🇸🇵🇭 task force, 🇰🇷 subs and much more
soundcloud.com/maritimematt...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufMn...
@japarker29.bsky.social and I talk RPDs, 🇺🇸🇵🇭 task force, 🇰🇷 subs and much more
soundcloud.com/maritimematt...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufMn...
Episode 37: Exercise Malabar & the South Korean SSN
Maritime Matters Episode Title: Exercise Malabar & the South Korean SSN
In this episode of Maritime Matters Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (https://www.unsw.
soundcloud.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:31 AM
The latest episode of #MaritimeMatters is out 🚢🎙️
@japarker29.bsky.social and I talk RPDs, 🇺🇸🇵🇭 task force, 🇰🇷 subs and much more
soundcloud.com/maritimematt...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufMn...
@japarker29.bsky.social and I talk RPDs, 🇺🇸🇵🇭 task force, 🇰🇷 subs and much more
soundcloud.com/maritimematt...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufMn...
My colleague Miranda Booth
presenting to the Sea Power Conference at IndoPac.
She even got in a mention of our survey on Australian public opinion regarding defence!
presenting to the Sea Power Conference at IndoPac.
She even got in a mention of our survey on Australian public opinion regarding defence!
November 4, 2025 at 3:31 AM
My colleague Miranda Booth
presenting to the Sea Power Conference at IndoPac.
She even got in a mention of our survey on Australian public opinion regarding defence!
presenting to the Sea Power Conference at IndoPac.
She even got in a mention of our survey on Australian public opinion regarding defence!
I’m slow to put this up, but the latest episode of #MaritimeMatters podcast is up.
@japarker29.bsky.social and I discuss all things maritime including P8s, Strikemasters, and of course AUKUS
m.youtube.com/watch?v=stCe...
@japarker29.bsky.social and I discuss all things maritime including P8s, Strikemasters, and of course AUKUS
m.youtube.com/watch?v=stCe...
Episode 36: Catching up: AUKUS, The South China Sea and More
YouTube video by Maritime Matters
m.youtube.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I’m slow to put this up, but the latest episode of #MaritimeMatters podcast is up.
@japarker29.bsky.social and I discuss all things maritime including P8s, Strikemasters, and of course AUKUS
m.youtube.com/watch?v=stCe...
@japarker29.bsky.social and I discuss all things maritime including P8s, Strikemasters, and of course AUKUS
m.youtube.com/watch?v=stCe...
This is a really problematic piece for it’s effort to “both sides” the issue, and in doing so legitimise 🇨🇳 claims that have been explicitly rejected under the terms of an agreement Beijing has signed.
www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
High waters, deep divisions in views of the South China Sea
One side’s freedom of navigation is the other’s territorial violation – and no code of conduct seems set to reconcile this.
www.lowyinstitute.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:30 AM
This is a really problematic piece for it’s effort to “both sides” the issue, and in doing so legitimise 🇨🇳 claims that have been explicitly rejected under the terms of an agreement Beijing has signed.
www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
It’s remarkable that these same rules appear not to apply to Hegseth and others…
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
October 17, 2025 at 7:13 AM
It’s remarkable that these same rules appear not to apply to Hegseth and others…
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
No sea blindness at Canberra Airport! 😂
October 17, 2025 at 6:55 AM
No sea blindness at Canberra Airport! 😂
Reposted by Richard Dunley
🚨 JOBS!!! 🚨
2 lots of jobs advertised in the School of Humanities & Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra
2.5 FTE positions in War Studies related disciplines - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
1 FTE in Indo-Pacific Studies - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
2 lots of jobs advertised in the School of Humanities & Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra
2.5 FTE positions in War Studies related disciplines - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
1 FTE in Indo-Pacific Studies - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
Lecturers/Senior Lecturers, Humanities & Social Sciences
Join our internationally recognised team of academics and share your knowledge in a humanities discipline relevant to the study of warfare. We have full and part-time teaching opportunities on offer.
external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au
October 9, 2025 at 9:53 PM
🚨 JOBS!!! 🚨
2 lots of jobs advertised in the School of Humanities & Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra
2.5 FTE positions in War Studies related disciplines - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
1 FTE in Indo-Pacific Studies - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
2 lots of jobs advertised in the School of Humanities & Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra
2.5 FTE positions in War Studies related disciplines - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
1 FTE in Indo-Pacific Studies - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
🚨 JOBS!!! 🚨
2 lots of jobs advertised in the School of Humanities & Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra
2.5 FTE positions in War Studies related disciplines - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
1 FTE in Indo-Pacific Studies - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
2 lots of jobs advertised in the School of Humanities & Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra
2.5 FTE positions in War Studies related disciplines - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
1 FTE in Indo-Pacific Studies - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
Lecturers/Senior Lecturers, Humanities & Social Sciences
Join our internationally recognised team of academics and share your knowledge in a humanities discipline relevant to the study of warfare. We have full and part-time teaching opportunities on offer.
external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au
October 9, 2025 at 9:53 PM
🚨 JOBS!!! 🚨
2 lots of jobs advertised in the School of Humanities & Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra
2.5 FTE positions in War Studies related disciplines - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
1 FTE in Indo-Pacific Studies - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
2 lots of jobs advertised in the School of Humanities & Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra
2.5 FTE positions in War Studies related disciplines - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
1 FTE in Indo-Pacific Studies - external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...
Reposted by Richard Dunley
It’s been fantastic to work with so many brilliant colleagues on this - brilliant chapters on everything from innovation to propaganda and covering great geographical range. We also hope the book speaks to qs of mil thought & organisation beyond history- check it out!
Only a month 'til the publication of “Framing the First World War: How Divergent Views Shaped a Global Conflict”, edited by me, @mpmfinch.bsky.social & @dmorganowen.bsky.social!
US readers: get 30% discount (code: FRAMINGWWI) & free shipping if you order direct from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social
US readers: get 30% discount (code: FRAMINGWWI) & free shipping if you order direct from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social
October 8, 2025 at 6:03 AM
It’s been fantastic to work with so many brilliant colleagues on this - brilliant chapters on everything from innovation to propaganda and covering great geographical range. We also hope the book speaks to qs of mil thought & organisation beyond history- check it out!
Stephen Roskill puncturing the integrated deterrence balloon 60 years before it was even the twinkle in a US think tanker’s eye!
October 2, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Stephen Roskill puncturing the integrated deterrence balloon 60 years before it was even the twinkle in a US think tanker’s eye!
Reposted by Richard Dunley
🚨 Delighted to share that I’ve just signed with Oxford University Press to write my next book: looking at how ideas about Western civilisation shape (and are shaped by) the design and use of military technology.
September 29, 2025 at 9:09 PM
🚨 Delighted to share that I’ve just signed with Oxford University Press to write my next book: looking at how ideas about Western civilisation shape (and are shaped by) the design and use of military technology.