Australia Chair
The Australia Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies is dedicated to increasing understanding between the United States and Australia
The Australia Chair, endowed through the generosity of Pratt Industries, sharpens the focus on U.S.-Australia alliance relations and contributes innovative policy ideas to the rapidly expanding regional and global challenges that call for greater coordination and action by Canberra and Washington. The Chair works to broaden the reach and impact of the U.S.-Australia alliance and Australian ideas, influence, and capacity.
Dr. Charles Edel, a thought leader on U.S. national security and U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific and a well-recognized public policy voice in U.S.-Australia relations, serves as the inaugural Australia Chair. The Australia Chair is supported by an advisory council of former senior officials and business leaders led by James Carouso, former chargé d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Canberra with senior diplomatic experience across the region.
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Contact
- Lam Tran
- Program Coordinator, Australia Chair
- ltran@csis.org
Media Queries
- H. Andrew Schwartz
- Chief Communications Officer
- 202.775.3242
- aschwartz@csis.org
- Paige Montfort
- Media Relations Manager, External Relations
- 202.775.3173
- pmontfort@csis.org
Featured Analysis

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Growing Challenges, Rising Ambitions: AUSMIN 2022 and Expanding U.S.-Australia Cooperation
This report examines different pathways for U.S.-Australia cooperation to evolve and deepen. The 18 essays outline the state of play on a range of topics, frame the most salient challenges, and offer more than 70 concrete recommendations for advancing the alliance.
Report by Charles Edel and Lam Tran — December 1, 2022
Recent Analysis

Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
ITAR Should End for Australia
The United States faces its greatest geopolitical challenge since World War II in a global strategic competition with China. To win this competition requires the United States to revise its Cold War-era weapons and sensitive technology control regimes.
Commentary by James Carouso , Thomas Schieffer , Jeffrey Bleich , John Berry , and Arthur Culvahouse — December 7, 2022

Growing Challenges, Rising Ambitions: AUSMIN 2022 and Expanding U.S.-Australia Cooperation
Report by Charles Edel and Lam Tran — December 1, 2022

White House Unveils Pacific Islands Strategy at Historic Summit
Critical Questions by Charles Edel , Christopher B. Johnstone , and Gregory B. Poling — September 30, 2022

The Clock Is Ticking: The Australian Defense Review and Time
Commentary by Mick Ryan — September 6, 2022
Featured Events

Indo-Pacific Forecast 2023

Report Launch: Growing Challenges, Rising Ambitions: AUSMIN 2022 and Expanding U.S.-Australia Cooperation

Book Event: Spies and Lies: How China's Greatest Covert Operations Fooled the World

Toward a clean and secure energy future in the Indo-Pacific: A conversation with Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen
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The Task Ahead for Rapid Capability Enhancement in Australian Defense
Commentary by Mick Ryan — August 4, 2022

The U.S.-Australia Alliance: Aligning Priorities in the Indo-Pacific with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles
Event by Charles Edel , Hon Richard Marles MP , and Anthony Pratt — July 11, 2022

Time to Reboot Franco-Australian Relations
Commentary by Charles Edel and Pierre Morcos — July 7, 2022

Building a Blue Pacific Agenda for the Twenty-First Century
Event by Charles Edel , Kurt Campbell , Ambassador Satyendra Prasad , Ambassador Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Pa’olelei Luteru , Ambassador Gerald M. Zackios , and Monica P. Medina — June 23, 2022

Aussie Elections
Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Charles Edel — May 18, 2022

Australia’s Election: Foreign Policy and National Security Implications
Event by Charles Edel , Amelia Adams , Peter Hartcher , and Stan Grant — May 4, 2022

In Conversation with Senator the Hon Penny Wong
Event by Charles Edel and Senator the Hon Penny Wong — March 28, 2022

Book Launch: War Transformed: The Future of Twenty-First-Century Great Power Competition and Conflict
Event by Charles Edel , Eliot A. Cohen , Emily Harding , and Major General Mick Ryan — February 15, 2022

CSIS Australia Chair Launch Event
Event by John J. Hamre , Michael J. Green , Charles Edel , James Carouso , Dr. Kurt Campbell , Anthony Pratt , Dr. Kori Schake , and Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos — January 10, 2022

CSIS Announces New Australia Chair
Press Release — December 1, 2021
