Security & Defense
The PLA, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Quad, AUKUS and the emerging security architecture of the region.
Afghanistan's TTP sanctuary claim gains weight as evidence mounts
UN monitoring reports estimate 6,000 TTP fighters in Afghanistan, with training camps and weapons transfers. Pakistani dossiers name Afghan
US exits Iraq but deepens Iran war, exposing hollow disengagement
The last US troops left Erbil Air Base on September 30, but the Pentagon is simultaneously escalating its war with Iran. This is not disenga
Russia's jet-powered Geran-5 drones challenge Ukraine's air defenses
Russia's new Geran-5 jet-powered drones are harder to intercept, with Ukraine downing only 60% of them. The drones' speed, altitude, and ant
Houthi Red Sea gains raise risks for African coastal states
Houthi forces have seized key Red Sea positions, raising risks for African states. Egypt faces Suez revenue losses, while Djibouti and Eritr
A Practical Path to Resume US-North Korea Talks
The US-China summit in Washington may have quietly revived prospects for US-North Korea dialogue. A phased approach, starting with a halt to
US exit from Iraq hands Iran a strategic windfall
The last US-led coalition forces are leaving Iraq, a move that significantly boosts Iran's regional position. Tehran's decades-old networks
China's disputed satellite refueling signals new era of orbital warfare
Chinese researchers claim a servicing spacecraft refueled a BeiDou navigation satellite in February 2025, but Western tracking data cast dou
RAF Fairford plot exposes gaps in UK counterterrorism
Five British nationals were arrested over an alleged bomb plot at RAF Fairford, a US Air Force base in England. The suspects were released o
Trump-linked drone firm's Pakistan pact raises regional concerns
Powerus, a US defense firm with Trump family investment, signed a memorandum with Pakistan's army to provide drone technology. The deal rais
US-Saudi nuclear pact raises proliferation fears in the Gulf
A US-Saudi civilian nuclear pact permits uranium enrichment up to 20% without IAEA Additional Protocol inspections. Critics warn this gives
The centuries-old contest for Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb
The current standoff over the Strait of Hormuz echoes a centuries-old struggle for control of the region's maritime chokepoints. From Zheng
Trump rejects Iran ceasefire offer as Tehran insists on negotiated path
Trump publicly rejected Iran's ceasefire and Hormuz reopening proposal, calling it unacceptable. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi insists t