Security & Defense
The PLA, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Quad, AUKUS and the emerging security architecture of the region.
Power Prevails but Law Still Matters in the South China Sea
The 2016 South China Sea arbitration award rejected China's historic rights claim within the nine-dash line. Despite China's non-compliance,
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries Threaten Economic Crisis
Ukraine has accelerated attacks on Russian oil refineries, claiming to have shut down over 42% of output. The strikes are causing fuel short
China's Truck-Mounted Drone Launcher Blurs Military and Civilian Lines
China's Beijing Institute of Technology has developed a truck-mounted electromagnetic drone launcher that can operate from roads, coastlines
Pentagon's AI Targeting Systems Lack Civilian Harm Pause
The Pentagon's Maven Smart System, used in thousands of strikes in Iran, lacks a civilian harm stop rule. After the Minab school tragedy, qu
NYT: Israel Sought to Kill Iran Negotiators to Sabotage US Peace Talks
US officials believed Israel intended to kill Iran's top negotiators to derail peace talks. Pakistani fighter jets escorted an Iranian deleg
Crimea Declares Emergency as Ukraine's Drone Campaign Pressures Russia's War Machine
Ukraine's relentless drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure have forced President Vladimir Putin to admit fuel shortages. Crimea has
Realist Reading: Israel-Turkey Rift Driven by Strategy, Not Values
Israel's recognition of the Armenian genocide is a strategic move against Turkey, not a moral epiphany. The deeper drivers are competition i
Japan's Gray-Zone Resilience Depends on Civilian Industry Networks
Japan's gray-zone resilience hinges on civilian industries, from submarine cables to rare-earth magnet recycling. Tokyo must map defense-adj
India's Nuclear Buildup Sharpens Deterrence as Pakistan and China Probe Below the Threshold
India's nuclear arsenal has grown to an estimated 190 warheads, driven by rivalries with Pakistan and China. But both rivals are testing the
After Three Decades, the International Push to Denuclearize North Korea Has Failed. What Comes Next?
After more than 30 years, the mission to end North Korea's nuclear program has failed. Experts give denuclearization just a 3% probability b
Spoilers Threaten US-Iran Peace Process as Swiss Talks Yield Roadmap
US-Iran peace talks in Switzerland yielded a 60-day roadmap and crisis mechanisms despite spoilers. Israeli-Hezbollah fighting and Trump's t
NATO's Core Mission: Guarding Against Russia, Not Appeasing Trump
NATO's central mission is deterring Russia, not appeasing the United States under Donald Trump. European members have leverage through US ba