Security & Defense
The PLA, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Quad, AUKUS and the emerging security architecture of the region.
Trump Declares Iran War Nears End, Vows 'Extremely Hard' Final Phase
President Trump announced the US military campaign in Iran is concluding, but pledged 'extremely hard' strikes in the coming weeks. The conf
Report Alleges US Defense Secretary's Broker Sought Weapons Stock Investment Before Iran Conflict
A broker for US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly sought a multimillion-dollar investment in a defense industry fund weeks before US
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Refineries Challenge US Energy Strategy and Global Markets
Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted major Russian oil refineries, including the Slavneft-YANOS facility in Yaroslavl. The attacks have rep
Disputed Missile Counts Fuel US-Iran Tensions, Echoing Historical Arms Deception
Public estimates of Iran's ballistic missile arsenal vary wildly, with US and Israeli assessments differing by thousands. The opacity surrou
US Permits Russian Oil Tanker to Cuba as Trump Dismisses Island's Future
President Donald Trump stated his administration would not stop a Russian-owned tanker carrying 730,000 barrels of oil from reaching Cuba. T
Pakistan's Mediation Bid Driven by Internal Pressures and Regional Instability
Pakistan is being projected as a mediator in the Middle East conflict, but its role stems from strategic necessity rather than diplomatic st
Australia's Deep Pacific Ties Outweigh China's Naval Posturing
Australia maintains a comprehensive network of security and fisheries partnerships across the Pacific Islands. China's naval maneuvers and b
Israel's Unacknowledged Nuclear Arsenal Shapes Middle East Security and Global Non-Proliferation
Israel's nuclear arsenal, developed outside international treaties, remains a central but unacknowledged factor in Middle Eastern security.
China Converts Retired J-6 Fighters into Low-Cost Drones for Taiwan Contingency
China has stationed at least 200 converted J-6 fighter jets as attack drones at six air bases near the Taiwan Strait. The strategy aims to d
Why Washington Hesitates to Force Open the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's targeting of commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy flows. A former Royal Australian Navy officer out
The Ghost of Suez Haunts Trump's War on Iran
The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in February 2026, just as nuclear talks neared a breakthrough. The parallels to the 1956 Suez Cri
Ukrainian Attack on Vyborg Shipyard Cripples Russian Arctic Ambitions
A Ukrainian drone attack on the Vyborg shipyard in Leningrad Oblast heavily damaged the new FSB icebreaker Purga and the spy ship Vice-Admir