Security & Defense
The PLA, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Quad, AUKUS and the emerging security architecture of the region.
Putin's Scorched-City Strategy Devastates Ukraine
Russia's latest wave of strikes on Kyiv and other cities has killed over 100 civilians, reviving the 'Grozny model' of urban destruction. An
Houthi strike on Riyadh airport exposes gaps in Saudi air defenses
On October 10, Houthi forces launched a coordinated drone, cruise missile, and ballistic missile attack on Riyadh's King Khalid Internationa
When AI takes control of weapons systems, the risks multiply
AI is being integrated into military systems across the Indo-Pacific, promising speed but raising profound risks. As autonomous agents act i
China adapts to Ukraine war tactics but resists command overhaul
China's military is quickly absorbing tactical lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war, from sea drones to fiber-optic FPVs. But a new CSIS stud
US and China compete for Gulf AI dominance as war reshapes alliances
China's AI and digital infrastructure investments in the Gulf are colliding with a larger US presence. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are hedging,
Anduril's $6.6B bet to revive US submarine production amid China's naval rise
Anduril Industries is investing $6.6 billion in a new Maryland shipyard to boost US submarine production. The move aims to address chronic d
Pulling B-1s from UK won't end drone threat to US bases
The US moved its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford back to Ellsworth AFB over drone attack fears. But domestic bases face similar incursions, an
Afghanistan's Wakhan road opens new route to China, challenging Pakistan's leverage
Afghanistan has opened a 121-km road through the Wakhan Corridor to the Chinese border, offering Beijing an alternative to Pakistan. The mov
China's Belt and Road foothold in Laos signals military expansion
New satellite images show Chinese jets at a half-finished runway in Laos, hinting at Beijing's first full military base in Southeast Asia. A
India's Akash missile exports to Central Asia signal new strategic alignment
India is exporting its Akash surface-to-air missile system to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, offering an alternative to Russian hardware. The
Yemen's renewed civil war risks igniting a wider regional conflict
Yemen's civil war is escalating as Houthi forces gain ground, prompting Saudi Arabia to seek new military allies. The conflict risks drawing
US-Australia hypersonic test masks deeper Pacific base vulnerabilities
The US and Australia conducted the first flight-test release of the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile over an Australian range. But experts c