6 May 2026, the Australian Naval Institute held a webinar examining the maritime elements of the recently released 2026 National Defence Strategy.
For Australia, an island nation whose security and prosperity are underpinned by maritime trade, the maritime dimension of the Strategy is central. This webinar moved beyond summary to examine what the Strategy reveals about Australia’s strategic circumstances, where capability and investment are heading, and whether current settings are sufficient to meet the challenges ahead.
The discussion considered the balance between sea denial and sea control, the protection of sea lines of communication, and the implications for Australia’s ability to operate effectively with allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific.