In this episode of the Contested Ground Podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Steve Kuper and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson unpack the concept of sovereign industrial capability and its growing importance amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The trio explore how the idea of sovereignty has evolved from a defence-specific concept into a broader national priority, particularly as global supply chains face disruption and Australia confronts its structural dependencies.
They discuss the lack of a clear, shared definition of sovereign capability, and how misunderstandings persist even within defence and national security circles.
The conversation highlights the need for Australia to identify and secure critical capabilities domestically, ranging from fuel and logistics to data and cyber resilience.
The episode also reflects on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and questions whether Australia has made meaningful progress in strengthening self-reliance, or if it remains vulnerable to external shocks.
With rising geopolitical tensions and shifting global dynamics, the speakers consider whether the era of globalisation is reaching its limits.
These topics include engaging discussion across:
Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team