Security & Defense
The PLA, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Quad, AUKUS and the emerging security architecture of the region.
Mysterious Drone Swarms Over US Nuclear Base Raise Espionage Fears
Between March 8 and 15, multiple drone swarms penetrated Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, forcing a halt to operations. The drones eva
Germany's Merz Unveils $1 Trillion Rearmament to End Europe's Big Power Dependence
Germany plans $1 trillion in defense projects by 2035, including new offensive weapons and a troop increase to 460,000. Defense Minister Pis
Pakistan's Instability Undermines US Strategic Ambitions in Asia
Pakistan's instability is no longer a localized security concern but a structural constraint on US strategy in Asia. Washington's priorities
Myanmar's Scam Centers Fuel Transnational Crime, Directly Harming US Consumers
Transnational scam centers in Myanmar and Cambodia have stolen at least $10 billion from Americans, funding human trafficking and armed grou
US and Iran Could Find Common Ground in Rewriting UNCLOS
The US and Iran, long at odds over the Strait of Hormuz, may find common cause in challenging UNCLOS. The treaty's ban on transit tolls forc
Iran's Veteran Negotiators Outclass US Rookies in Nuclear Talks
Iran's nuclear negotiating team, with decades of experience, has outmaneuvered a US delegation led by real-estate developers and venture cap
Pathways to De-escalation: How Washington and Tehran Could Avert Conflict in the Strait of Hormuz
A US-imposed deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has been extended indefinitely, but the risk of escalation persists. Diplomati
US Military's Costly Dilemma: Million-Dollar Missiles vs. Iran's Cheap Drones
The US military is expending missiles worth over $1 million to intercept Iranian drones costing as little as $20,000. This unsustainable cos
US-Iran Stalemate in Hormuz Strains Alliances, Reshapes Asian Energy Security
A US naval blockade and Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz have created a strategic stalemate with global consequences. The crisis is fr
Geographic Leverage: How the Strait of Hormuz Reshapes Global Power Dynamics
Iran's ability to threaten the Strait of Hormuz has shifted the balance in its standoff with the US, highlighting the power of geographic le
Trump's Iran Campaign: A Pyrrhic Victory in the Making?
President Donald Trump has claimed victory in the Iran war, but the conflict's aftermath may leave the US in a weaker strategic position. Ir
Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire, Maintains Naval Blockade Amid Regional Tensions
US President Donald Trump has extended a temporary ceasefire in the conflict with Iran but affirmed the continuation of a US naval blockade.