Sovereignty and Security

At a time of accelerating strategic uncertainty, shifting alliance, and intensifying geopolitical competition, questions of sovereignty and security are no longer confined to defence capability alone. Australia faces a more complex challenge: how to sustain sovereign decision-making and national resilience across critical domains including technology, energy, cyber, and industrial capacity. As traditional assumptions about the international system evolve, there is growing pressure on middle powers to navigate competing interests, manage risk, and strengthen their ability to act independently while maintaining key partnerships.

The Sovereignty and Security Forum 2026 brought together senior leaders from government, defence, industry, and academia to examine these challenges in a changing strategic environment. Discussions focused on sovereign capability, AUKUS delivery and risk, hybrid and grey zone threats, and the role of middle powers in shaping a new strategic order. The forum emphasised the need for a more integrated, whole-of-nation approach to security, extending beyond traditional defence settings.

The full report will be available to download soon.