Jamie Seidel
Jamie Seidel examines global flashpoints and emerging technologies through a strategic, big-picture lens, connecting distant events to concrete risks for governments, militaries and civilians. He focuses on international affairs, defence, science and space, translating complex geopolitical and technical issues into plain language for a general audience.
Global tensions and the risk of conflict
Seidel’s core focus is on rising international tensions and how they could escalate into open conflict, particularly involving major powers and their allies. His coverage of China often centres on preparations for war and the implications for the wider world, including reporting on unusual stockpiling behaviour and what it could signal about invasion planning and supply chain disruption.
He has examined warnings from foreign officials and analysts about the prospect of confrontation between the United States and China, and what that would mean for Australia’s security posture and alliance commitments. In the Middle East, he follows rapidly changing dynamics between Israel and Iran, exploring scenarios in which local escalation could draw in broader regional actors and unsettle global energy and security systems.
Across these stories he ties individual developments back to overarching strategic patterns, emphasising timelines, trigger points and the interlocking nature of modern conflict.
Defence, weapons and military technology
Defence capability and weapons systems form another recurring thread in Seidel’s work, with particular attention to how new tools alter the balance of power and raise ethical questions. He has written on “killer robots” and autonomous weapons, examining how militaries are integrating AI-driven systems and what that means for accountability and the rules of war. His reporting on advanced missile defence and “Star Wars”–style weapon plans looks at both the technical promise and the strategic risk of space-based or high-energy systems. Seidel often frames these developments as part of a race for deterrence and dominance, showing how procurement decisions, treaties and technology tests feed into long-term shifts in capability.
He highlights the way smaller and medium powers respond, whether by aligning with major powers, seeking niche strengths or confronting gaps in their own defence planning.
AI, automation and power
Beyond weapons systems, Seidel frequently covers artificial intelligence and automation as forces reshaping politics, security and society. He has reported on how AI is “already seizing power,” focusing on the transfer of decision-making from humans to algorithms in both civilian and military contexts.
These pieces look at data-driven surveillance, automated targeting, and the growing reliance on complex software in critical infrastructure. Seidel examines who controls these systems, what happens when they fail or are manipulated, and how regulatory debates lag behind rapid deployment.
He brings together expert assessments and official statements to explain how AI can amplify existing power structures and create new vulnerabilities, including the potential for miscalculation in crisis situations.
Science, space and the broader strategic picture
Science and space sit alongside politics and defence in Seidel’s beat, often appearing as arenas where technological progress intersects with national strategy.
His background in science reporting informs coverage of space programs and exploration with an emphasis on dual-use technologies, such as satellite networks that support both civilian services and military operations. He explores how advances in space launch, communications and surveillance reshape intelligence-gathering and battlefield awareness.
In science stories, he breaks down complex concepts into accessible terms while linking them to questions of governance, security and long-term risk. This allows him to situate technical breakthroughs within broader narratives about how societies prepare for future threats and opportunities.
Experience and format
Seidel brings more than three decades of experience across reporting, subediting and digital production to his current work. He has written extensively across the News Corporation network, with science and international affairs articles featuring as prominent homepage lead stories.
At the masthead he contributes news and analysis pieces that blend hard reporting with explanatory context, often using vivid headlines and scenario-based framing to engage readers with complex subjects. His work also appears in other outlets, including national publications where he writes on defence and international alignment.
Across platforms, he maintains a consistent style: concise, high-impact prose that foregrounds the stakes of a story, draws connections between disparate events, and keeps technical language secondary to clear explanation.
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