Security & Defense
The PLA, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Quad, AUKUS and the emerging security architecture of the region.
What India's war documentary leaves out about the 2025 air battle
India's new documentary on the 2025 conflict glosses over Pakistan's air superiority and the diplomatic fallout. Independent evidence shows
Trump's Hormuz map draws Iranian rebuke amid escalating standoff
President Trump shared a map on Truth Social labeling the Strait of Hormuz as US territory, drawing a sharp rebuke from Iran's deputy foreig
Why the 'Chinese tolls' narrative misreads maritime reality in the western Pacific
The US National Security Strategy warns of Chinese 'tolls' in the South China Sea, but the analogy to Iran's Strait of Hormuz is flawed. Chi
Trump threatens to bomb Oman over Strait of Hormuz standoff
President Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it interferes with efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The strait's closure has spiked oil pr
US Carrier Shortage Strains Indo-Pacific Deterrence as Lincoln Returns
The USS Abraham Lincoln returns to San Diego after a 260-day deployment, exposing a US carrier shortage. With the George Washington en route
Trump curtails US-South Korea drills, emboldening Kim's Ukraine role
Trump has ordered a significant reduction in US-South Korean military exercises, citing his relationship with Kim Jong Un. The move comes as
US hypersonic missile push risks nuclear ambiguity in Asia
DARPA is soliciting designs for a next-generation hypersonic cruise missile, aiming for a 'revolutionary leap' in range and survivability. B
US military morale in the Middle East hits new low amid Iran conflict
Military families describe squalid conditions on US bases and ships in the Middle East, including sewage overflows and inadequate missile sh
The false promise of nuclear deterrence in an unstable world
The assumption that nuclear deterrence ensures strategic stability is a dangerous fantasy. Recent conflicts show how nuclear threats escalat
Trump threatens to annex Strait of Hormuz amid Iran war
President Trump announced plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory, a move that would upend global shipping and energy markets.
Five Years On, Taliban Holds Territory but Not Sovereignty
The Taliban's five-year rule has brought a reduction in large-scale conflict, but its refusal to curb cross-border militant groups has deepe
US shifts to offensive space weapons as China, Russia expand ASAT arsenals
US Space Command now prioritizes offensive anti-satellite weapons to ensure space superiority. The shift responds to China and Russia's expa