Dr. Nishank Motwani is a strategic advisor operating at the intersection of global security, emerging technology, and geopolitical risk. His career spans the “Quad” nations and includes significant experience in Afghanistan and the Middle East, providing executive leadership with the analytical rigor required to navigate polycrisis environments.
Nishank specializes in translating complex geostrategic shifts into actionable intelligence, bridging the gap between national security policy, commercial markets, and contested spaces.
Whether advising on AUKUS-related defense integration, countering adversarial grey zone activities, or analyzing the socio-political impact of disruptive technologies, he delivers high-stakes insights that protect interests and identify growth opportunities across the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and the U.S.
Recent Work
America Is Watching: AUKUS Needs More Than Rhetoric From Australia
The Diplomat
Why Canberra's defence-spending commitments need to translate into measurable, capability-relevant action.
Digital dai-ichi: with right balance, Japan can shape its hyperscale future
The Strategist
AUKUS and deterrence: what, exactly, are we trying to deter?
The Strategist
Strategic and industrial factors favour Japan for Australia's frigate project
The Strategist
Diplomacy first: Australia's diplomatic push in a contested Indo-Pacific
The Strategist
Navigating the Shadows: Afghanistan's Terrorism Landscape Three Years After the US Withdrawal
Middle East Institute
How the Taliban's regime three years on has reshaped al-Qaeda, ISKP, and the international threat picture.
Why informed discussion on AUKUS is good for everyone
The Strategist
AUKUS needs more than submarines to make its bold vision a reality
Nikkei Asia
Public engagement is key to the trilateral pact's mission to deter China.
The danger of AI in war: it doesn't care about self-preservation
The Strategist
Bold push into quantum computing is Australia's Manhattan moment
The Strategist
AUKUS Faces Mounting Challenges. Australia Must Address Them.
The Diplomat
Three challenges to AUKUS — political unity, public messaging, and strategic choices — demand Australian leadership.
Developing effective deterrence—from the war fighters' perspective
The Strategist