Raji Rajagopalan
@raji143.bsky.social
I am a Resident Senior Fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) in Canberra. My areas of interest include: Asian Geopolitics, Indo-Pacific, Outer Space, Space Security, Nuclear Security, Cyber Security
EVENT ALERT 📌 Join ASPI on 14 September in Canberra for a special Sydney Dialogue AI Masterclass. Hear from political leaders, senior officials and industry experts as they explore the strategic, economic and security implications of AI. 🔗 Register now ➡️ /bit.ly/4aEWpld
NBR advisor @raji143.bsky.social Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan in the Diplomat : Helping Iran, China Is a Party in the War thediplomat.com/2026/04/help...
Helping Iran, China Is a Party in the War
Several reports in recent weeks have revealed the extent of China’s active support for Iran.
thediplomat.com
🚨 SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨 We're delighted to announce Admiral David Johnston, Chief of the Defence Force, will speak at the 2026 ASPI Defence Conference. This year's event will focus on translating strategy into action & turning partnerships into practical advantage. 🔗 Register: bit.ly/3RxeCKC
NBR advisor Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan @raji143.bsky.social writes in the Diplomat on how China’s sustained higher defense spending has altered the military balance in the region. thediplomat.com/2026/03/desp...
Despite a Supposedly Defensive Policy, China’s Military Budget Rises Fast
China’s sustained higher defense spending has altered the military balance in the region.
thediplomat.com
"India’s concerns will likely grow if China seeks nuclear parity with the U.S., which would result in a massive nuclear disparity between India and China." | @raji143.bsky.social in the NBR report "Meeting China's Nuclear and WMD Buildup" www.nbr.org/publication/...
On the latest Thinking the Unthinkable at @warontherocks.bsky.social, I speak to John Warden about how the US should think about the prospect of Sino-Russian cooperation in thinking about its nuclear strategy, force design, and posture: warontherocks.com/episode/thin...
Adapting to the Future Strategic Landscape
Ankit talks with John Warden about how the United States should think about its nuclear strategy as we move into an environment in which the...
warontherocks.com
Women make up 22% of Tech workforce in 2026, across APAC. (70% women in tech still feel they need to work harder to prove themselves because of their gender)
Macron's speech available in English now. The official translation is "forward deterrence." us.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/speech-pr...
Speech by the President of the Republic on France’s nuclear deterrence | France in the U.S.
Visit of Emmanuel Macron to the Île Longue Operational Base (March 2, 2026)
us.diplomatie.gouv.fr
"Iran agreed a secret €500mn arms deal with Russia to acquire thousands of advanced shoulder-fired missiles in its most significant effort to rebuild air defences shattered during last year’s war with Israel." www.ft.com/content/d034...
Iran agreed secret shoulder-fired missile deal with Russia
Leaks reveal €500mn contract for man-portable ‘Verba’ system to rebuild Tehran’s air defences
ft.com
My essay in @ASPI_org #TheStrategist on the recent revelations of China's nuclear testing is now published in The Diplomat @Diplomat_APAC
Revelations of Chinese Nuclear Tests Mark Start of a New Era
While China is expanding its nuclear arsenal at a dramatic pace, Russia and the U.S. are also testing new delivery platforms.
thediplomat.com
"State news agency Xinhua described the latest launch as another planned round of 'technology verification' for China’s reusable spacecraft programme" and that "The experiment will provide technical support for 'the peaceful use of outer space'" www.scmp.com/news/china/s...
China sends fourth ‘Shenlong’ reusable spacecraft mission into orbit
Programme for ‘peaceful use of outer space’ launched in 2020 is seen as potential rival to US Space Force’s X-37B.
scmp.com
NBR advisor Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan @raji143.bsky.social in Real Clear Defense: Want an Explanation for China’s Nuclear Build-Up? It’s Not in the New White Paper www.realcleardefense.com/articles/202...
realcleardefense.com
APLN member @raji143.bsky.social joins @stimsoncenter.bsky.social's @ethrelkeld.bsky.social to reflect on lessons from the 🇮🇳-🇵🇰 Crisis — covering strategic learning, limited conventional war under the nuclear shadow, information warfare & takeaways for future crises. www.youtube.com/watch?v=eokk...
Rajeswari Rajagopalan: Lessons from the May India-Pakistan Crisis
YouTube video by Strategic Learning
youtube.com
Want an Explanation for China’s Nuclear Build-up? - mine and Rajesh’s essay in The Strategist is now in The Diplomat @RRajagopalanJNU @Diplomat_APAC @ASPI_org thediplomat.com/2025/12/want...
thediplomat.com
“The exercises are a sign of the convergence of perceptions and views among the four countries of the rapidly changing strategic threats in the #IndoPacific...” | NBR advisor @raji143.bsky.social Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan ipdefenseforum.com/2025/11/quad... #Malabar #Quad
ipdefenseforum.com
'US-China tensions are growing due to factors including tariff troubles and China’s curtailing of rare earth exports. This benefits Australia and the Quad as it reaffirms their importance to the US,' writes @raji143.bsky.social.
Prime Minister Albanese’s meeting with President Trump: views from ASPI analysts | The Strategist
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on 20 October. This will be the first official meeting between the two leaders since Trump’s inauguration in January. ...
aspistrategist.org.au
Space logistics: why rules matter for safety, security and sustainability - my @ASPI_org Special Report argues that without shared norms, dual-use nature of RPOs can undermine trust and stability in space. We need to develop norms, build trust and reduce miscalculation.
Australian Strategic Policy Institute@aspi-org.bsky.social · 11mo ago🚨 NEW REPORT 🚨 Space logistics — from satellite maintenance to debris removal — is critical to the sustainable use of space 🚀. But a new ASPI report from @raji143.bsky.social warns these technologies are evolving in a regulatory vacuum that could destabilise global security. 🔖 Read: bit.ly/3KidUxm
🚨 NEW REPORT 🚨 Space logistics — from satellite maintenance to debris removal — is critical to the sustainable use of space 🚀. But a new ASPI report from @raji143.bsky.social warns these technologies are evolving in a regulatory vacuum that could destabilise global security. 🔖 Read: bit.ly/3KidUxm
🚨 EVENT UPDATE 🚨 We're excited to announce our first speakers for the Sydney Dialogue on 4-5 December! Hear from @tsahkna.bsky.social, Kateryna Chernohorenko, Wilson L. White, Michelle Simmons AO and Steve Bowsher. 👀 Stay tuned for more speaker updates this week. Register now 👉 bit.ly/427eTqj
'A more stable relationship may bring a certain amount of predictability to our interactions with Beijing, as well as China’s regional behaviour. But we have been burnt on more than one occasion in the past few years, including by China’s economic and trade coercion,' writes @raji143.bsky.social.
Albanese's China visit: views from ASPI analysts | The Strategist
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit China from 12 to 18 July, his office said yesterday. He’ll meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. Here are ASPI analysts’ views on the visit, what A...
aspistrategist.org.au
'India’s continued purchase of weapons and energy from Russia is raising difficulties in its relationship with the United States that are extending across the Indo-Pacific,' writes @raji143.bsky.social.
India, the US and the Quad: managing tensions to meet the China challenge | The Strategist
India’s continued purchase of weapons and energy from Russia is raising difficulties in its relationship with the United States that are extending across the Indo-Pacific. This is not just a bilateral...
aspistrategist.org.au
ASPI's Cyber, Technology and Security team has published its latest Monthly Roundup newsletter! In this edition, @raji143.bsky.social examines how China is weaponising cyber operations in orbit and provides her top picks from the Daily Cyber & Tech Digest this month. 🔖 Read: bit.ly/3Go9FP2
"China’s more ambitious cyber attacks aim to mimic the signals that enemy satellites receive from their operators, tricking them into either being taken over completely or malfunctioning during crucial moments in combat." www.ft.com/content/881c...
China building cyber weapons to hijack enemy satellites, says US leak
Classified CIA document assesses Beijing’s ambitions to take control of communications critical to fighting wars
ft.com
NEW SPEAKER 🔊 We look forward to welcoming Dr Steven Kennedy, Secretary to the Australian Treasury, to the ASPI Defence Conference on 4 June to discuss the major challenges stemming from the 2024 National Defence Strategy. 📄 Interested in attending? Find out more: bit.ly/43phs6E
'The Golden Dome program will not only allow the US and the West to catch up; it may also generate some momentum for space governance talks as China and Russia grow increasingly threatened,' writes @raji143.bsky.social.
Golden Dome looks technically doable, but brings strategic complications | The Strategist
The plan for a Golden Dome missile defence system in the United States looks technologically feasible but nonetheless raises doubts around factors such as its strategic benefits and affordability. The...
aspistrategist.org.au
'For a long time, India has struggled to develop an effective response to Pakistan’s use of cross-border terrorism as a state policy. Such attacks are clearly designed to keep India off-balance, but India’s response has also slowly become harsher,' writes @raji143.bsky.social.
India and Pakistan must manage escalation after Pahalgam attack | The Strategist
India has launched a retaliatory strike against the Pakistan-based groups responsible for a terrorist attack in Indian Kashmir two weeks ago. The Indian government released a press statement announcin...
aspistrategist.org.au
NEW PODCAST 🎤 In the wake of India's retaliatory air strikes on Pakistan, ASPI's @raji143.bsky.social joins David Wroe on Stop the World for a special episode exploring whether 🇮🇳 and 🇵🇰 will avoid the ultimate nightmare—escalation that goes nuclear. 🎧 Listen now: bit.ly/3GFstsT
As India's PM Modi and US VP Vance hold bilateral talks see a commentary for @aspi-org.bsky.social by NBR advisor @raji143.bsky.social, who writes that "India’s strategic awareness and manoeuvrability will help it work with Donald Trump’s America once again" www.aspistrategist.org.au/flexibility-...
Flexibility and awareness will help India deal with Trump (again) | The Strategist
India navigated relations with the United States quite skilfully during the first Trump administration, better than many other US allies did. Doing so a second time will be more difficult, but India’s...
aspistrategist.org.au
