David Brewster

Dr. David Brewster is a Senior Research Fellow at the National Security College, Australian National University, specializing in Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific maritime security. He also holds a Distinguished Research Fellow position at the Australia India Institute, University of Melbourne. His work focuses on India’s strategic role in the Indo-Pacific, Sino-Indian naval dynamics, and regional security cooperation. Brewster frequently participates in international security dialogues and contributes to policy-oriented publications. He has authored influential books like *India’s Ocean* and edited volumes such as *India and China at Sea*, examining geopolitical competition in the Indian Ocean. His research integrates geopolitical analysis with maritime security challenges, emphasizing multilateral partnerships to address emerging threats.

Qualifications include a PhD from ANU, LLM from Columbia University, and legal/economics degrees from the University of Sydney. Brewster’s expertise spans Indian Ocean security, Indo-Pacific strategy, and defense diplomacy. Key projects include analyzing Australia’s strategic engagement in the Indian Ocean and trilateral partnerships with India and France. He advocates for enhanced maritime surveillance, capacity-building in island states, and addressing geoenvironmental security challenges in the region.

Recent publications explore Australia’s strategic posture, AUKUS cooperation with India, and China’s naval ambitions. Brewster’s work underscores the need for adaptive strategies in a multipolar Indo-Pacific, leveraging academic research to inform policy decisions on maritime security and geopolitical stability.