Security & Defense
The PLA, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Quad, AUKUS and the emerging security architecture of the region.
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
Russia Arms Iran with Drones, Deepening Anti-US Axis from Moscow to Tehran
Russia is nearing completion of drone deliveries to Iran, a reversal of earlier flows from Tehran to Moscow. The shipments, part of a broade
US Ground Troops in Iran: From Limited Strikes to the Specter of Invasion
US airstrikes have not defeated Iran's regime, prompting talk of ground troops. Limited operations like seizing Kharg Island or Strait of Ho
US Ground Invasion of Iran Looms as Trump Weighs 'Final Blow' Options
The Trump administration is reportedly weighing options for a massive escalation in Iran, including invading Kharg Island and seizing enrich
Sophisticated Drone Swarms Disrupt B-52 Operations at Barksdale Air Force Base
Drone swarms attacked Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana for four hours daily in March, halting B-52 launches for Operation Epic Fury. Th
Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Conflict Threatens China's Belt and Road Corridors
Sustained fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan risks destabilizing a key corridor for China's Belt and Road Initiative. Beijing's diplo