Security & Defense
The PLA, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Quad, AUKUS and the emerging security architecture of the region.
Pakistan's mediation push revives US-Iran diplomacy hopes
Pakistan's Army Chief visited Tehran in late August, building on months of shuttle diplomacy between Washington and Tehran. Islamabad seeks
Bangladesh weighs joining Mecca defense pact, unsettling India
Bangladesh has signaled interest in joining the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, a collective security pact among Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pa
Russia's Ukraine quagmire deepens as costs mount and options narrow
Russia's war in Ukraine is becoming a strategic trap, with mounting costs and no clear path to victory. Ukrainian drone strikes are hitting
Japan's drone surge faces industrial hurdles in mass production
Japan's ATLA fast-tracked a contract for Terra Drone's interceptor, but scaling production faces industrial and testing bottlenecks. Experts
USS Abraham Lincoln's Deployment Ordeal Demands a Congressional Inquiry
The USS Abraham Lincoln returns after nine months at sea amid reports of deplorable conditions. Veterans' groups demand a congressional prob
CIA chief's unannounced Moscow trip raises questions about Ukraine's fate
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced trip to Moscow in late August, sparking speculation about its purpose. The visit, which invo
India and France explore joint path to sixth-generation fighter
India has formally begun exploring participation in France's Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, according to its defense ministry. The
China's YJ-20 hypersonic missile reshapes Pacific naval power
China's YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile is now deployed on Type 052D destroyers, expanding its reach beyond the elite Type 055 class. Thi
US Navy's AIM-424 'Malice' missile targets China's carrier-killer network
The US Navy has unveiled the AIM-424 'Malice' long-range air-to-air missile, designed to counter China's carrier-killer aircraft. With a ran
Nuclear brinkmanship returns to Europe as US reviews tactical options
The Pentagon is updating US nuclear policy amid fears Russia could use tactical weapons in Ukraine or against NATO. Moscow's Iskander-M depl
Ukraine's refinery strikes are finally crippling Russia's fuel system
Ukraine's repeated strikes on Russian oil refineries are finally degrading Moscow's fuel system. The campaign is forcing rationing across Ru
Hormuz insurance shock reveals the strait's real balance sheet
War-risk insurance on tankers through Hormuz has surged from 0.15% to as high as 10% of vessel value, cutting daily transits by up to 95%. T