The Case for Pacific Optimism, with Blake Herzinger
Having trouble keeping up with the world around you? Head swirling with too much? You’re not alone. Good news…we’ll get you all caught up and set right. Returning to the Midrats Podcast is Blake Herzinger. Blake Herzinger is Microsoft’s Defense and National Security Policy Lead for Asia. Previously, he led policy strategy and advocacy at Citi across North and South Asia and Australia, advised senior leaders on geopolitical and regulatory trends at Indo-Pacific Advisors, and held roles at Twitter and Booz Allen Hamilton focused on defense policy, risk, and market strategy. He has been affiliated with think tanks including the American Enterprise Institute and the US Studies Centre in Sydney. From 2008 to 2017, Blake served as an active-duty officer in the U.S. Navy as an intelligence officer; he continues to serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He holds an M.A. in Strategic Studies from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) and a B.A. in Political Science from Brigham Young University. He speaks English and Bulgarian. In this episode: The significance of Japan increasing its defense expenditure to 2% of GDP and regional implications Japan’s soft power growth through development aid and maritime security contributions The increasing security cooperation between Japan, Australia, South Korea, and regional partners How regional maritime choke points affect security and trade resilience The digital revolution in shipbuilding and defense modernization efforts The strategic importance of AUKUS and integrated supply chains for alliance strength Insights into Singapore’s strategic posture and its partnerships in Southeast Asia Challenges in defense procurement, cyber security, and digital infrastructure resilience The shifting dynamics of global energy supply and regional economic interests Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome and introduction to the regional security context 02:05 - Blake Herzinger’s role and current focus in Asia 02:33 - Japan’s defense spending increase and regional security implications 03:56 - Japan’s relationships with neighbors and regional development efforts 04:50 - Japan’s soft power in Southeast Asia and maritime security contributions 05:43 - Japan’s defense export initiatives and security cooperation 07:43 - Personal experiences with Japan-U.S. naval exercises and alliance benefits 08:13 - Japan’s assertiveness regarding Taiwan and regional security alignments 08:46 - Building security networks among U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific 09:36 - The evolution of regional defense partnerships and trilateral arrangements 10:01 - Historical context of Pacific conflicts and current opportunities for cooperation 11:20 - The non-expansionist nature of current regional disputes and interests overlap 12:15 - The growing economic and security ties around Southeast Asia 13:26 - Japan’s defense uplift post-Shangri-La Dialogue and its regional impact 14:01 - Ukraine’s influence on Japan and regional resilience initiatives 15:04 - Cyber warfare, critical infrastructure, and future regional security challenges 16:17 - Maritime choke points’ strategic importance and regional defense planning 17:41 - U.S. and regional shipbuilding efforts, technological modernization 18:48 - Evolving international relationships beyond traditional hubs 20:01 - The growing defense collaborations across Asia and beyond 21:35 - The importance of digital infrastructure and cyber security in defense 22:53 - The challenge of modernizing shipbuilding through data and digital supply chains 24:07 - Regional energy security, oil dependencies, and diversifying supplies 26:21 - Australia’s energy policies and regional resilience...