Clinton Fernandes
Professor Clinton Fernandes is part of University of NSW’s Future Operations Research Group which analyses the threats, risks and opportunities that military forces will face in the future. He is a former intelligence officer in the Australian Army.
- Opinion
- AUKUS
Let’s not pretend that new – or old – submarines are what AUKUS is really about
Some say Australia’s new deal is akin to forfeiting a deposit on a new Renault to get a top-of-the-range Tesla, but receiving a second-hand model with 200,000 kilometres on the clock.
- Clinton Fernandes
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- Opinion
- Inside China
Xi says he has a ‘similar personality’ to a powerful world leader. It isn’t Trump
The West has imposed widespread sanctions against Russia in an attempt to isolate Putin over his illegal invasion of Ukraine. They have been unsuccessful.
- Clinton Fernandes
- Opinion
- Trump diplomacy
Xi gave Trump a clear warning. His red-line threat is one that most people don’t understand
China glossed over the issues that Donald Trump had wanted to discuss with Xi Jinping. Now the US president has to scramble to prevent a bigger problem.
- Clinton Fernandes
- Opinion
- China relations
Trump burnt Xi last time. Today, he needs the Chinese president to save him
Xi Jinping hasn’t forgotten what happened when he rolled out the red carpet for Trump’s China visit in 2017. Trump responded with tariffs on $US200 billion in imports.
- Clinton Fernandes
- Opinion
- OPEC
Trump is trying to break the OPEC oil cartel. The UAE has done exactly what he wanted
The United Arab Emirates’ decision to leave the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries advances Donald Trump’s goal of weakening the powerful oil bloc.
- Clinton Fernandes
- Opinion
- Middle East at war
Iran wants to make peace with the US this week – if Trump’s ego doesn’t get in the way
Iran is willing to compromise on its nuclear enrichment program, but it will not agree to give up its medium-range ballistic missiles or its ability to control the Strait of Hormuz.
- Clinton Fernandes
- Opinion
- Trump diplomacy
Trump’s threats to ‘kill a civilisation’ were unhinged. That’s exactly how a nuclear option works
The US president has the power to unilaterally launch nuclear strikes. He is briefed by the military before taking office – and his advisers have no power to stop him.
- Clinton Fernandes
- Opinion
- Middle East at war
The Trump administration is a kleptocracy. That alone offers hope for an end to the Iran war
The US president and his associates have significant financial investments in pro-US Gulf states, and these may be ruined in an Iranian retaliatory campaign.
- Clinton Fernandes
- Opinion
- Trump's White House
There’s a reason Trump set his 48-hour deadline on a Saturday. It had nothing to do with Iran
Trump didn’t follow through on his threatened attacks. The response by the Iranians shows they understand the constraints on the US president.
- Clinton Fernandes
- Opinion
- Middle East at war
Trump wants out of this costly war. The Iranian regime has him trapped
For the ordinary Trump-voting American, the Middle East conflict is a long way away. But what Americans will have noticed is that petrol prices have soared more than US80¢ a gallon.
- Clinton Fernandes