Australian Strategic Policy Institute

🚨 NEW REPORT 🚨 In ‘The Pacific cocaine corridor: A Brazilian cartel’s pipeline to Australia’, ASPI Fellow Rodrigo Duton charts the dramatic expansion of the Brazilian organised crime gang Primeiro Comando da Capital in the import of cocaine and other drugs into Australia. 🔖 Read it now ➡️ bit.ly/3Q77OiS

This The Sydney Morning Herald article features our new report ‘The Pacific cocaine corridor: A Brazilian cartel’s pipeline to Australia.' The report explores the increasing focus of the Brazilian organised crime gang Primeiro Comando da Capital on Australia as a destination for cocaine and other drugs due to high prices and local market stability. Report author Rodrigo Duton tells Sally Rawsthorne: “The PCC’s infiltration into Australia aligns with its broader strategy of international expansion, leveraging global trade networks and alliances with local crime groups.” 🔖 Read the report now ➡️ bit.ly/3Q77OiS

At this year's Avalon Australian International Airshow, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and QinetiQ Australia are hosting a two hour panel discussion on 'Realising the Future Air Force: Harnessing Excellence, Technology, and Partnerships to deliver the National Defence Strategy.' I'm down to moderate the panel discussion. Key speakers to be announced shortly. https://lnkd.in/gvFQfww5

'An entire ecosystem of vital China-related work is now in crisis. When the Trump administration froze foreign funding and USAID programs last week, dozens of scrappy nonprofits in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the US were immediately affected. Staff are losing their jobs; some organisations face imminent closure due to lack of funding; others are paring back their programming,' writes Bethany Allen.

🇦🇺 Honored to have joined the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) as a Fellow in the Strategic Policing and Law Enforcement Program. It has been an incredible experience collaborating with such a highly respected institution and working alongside dedicated professionals committed to tackling transnational organized crime. A special thank you to Dr John Coyne, Raelene Lockhorst, Henry Campbell and James Robinson for the collaboration and support throughout this journey. This report sheds light on the evolving dynamics of drug trafficking in the Pacific, a complex and growing challenge. Proud to contribute to this important discussion. Looking forward to more impactful work ahead! 🫡 #ASPI #TransnationalCrime #DrugTrafficking #SecurityStudies

'North Korea is getting more out of its engagement in Russia’s war than Russia is getting from North Korea. The forces that Pyongyang has sent to fight Ukraine are poorly equipped and are not performing well. Yet, the military-technological help that Russia is sending to North Korea in return is highly valuable,' write Soumya Narain and Bishwajit Acharya.

⏰ STARTING SOON ⏰ ASPI and The Alan Turing Institute's special event on AI, electoral integrity and democratic resilience starts soon! Join Microsoft ANZ's Kate Seward, International IDEA's Antonio Spinelli and The Alan Turing Institute's Sam Stockwell as they discuss AI-enabled influence operations, election vulnerabilities and the technical interventions needed to safeguard democratic processes. 📹 Watch online 👉 bit.ly/4jNrqq4

🔔 JOB REMINDER 🔔 Don't miss out on applying for ASPI's Professional Development Program Coordinator! If you have strong communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills, as well as exceptional organisational abilities, this role could be for you! ✍ Applications close on Monday. Apply now ↪️ http://bit.ly/3SOLE6e

Speaking to The Australian Financial Review on the DeepSeek ban on Australian government devices, Justin Bassi says the government needs to explain the logic of deeming DeepSeek unsafe for public servants but not for the critical infrastructure sector and the public. “They might argue that government communications and information are of particular interest and value to the Chinese government and therefore need to be protected in ways that members of the public do not. But it’s hard to see how that extends to devices and equipment that sits within critical infrastructure or other vital public assets.” Read the full article ⤵️

'Brazil’s growing role in global cocaine supply and its expansion into new markets (including new Pacific routes), the rising sophistication of its criminal networks, and growing demand in Australia’s lucrative cocaine market are increasing the presence of Brazilian crime groups on our shores,' writes Rodrigo Duton.