Security & Defense
The PLA, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Quad, AUKUS and the emerging security architecture of the region.
West Asia's Old Security Order Collapses Under Weight of War and Mistrust
The old security order in West Asia is dead, undone by the Gaza war, Iran-Israel escalation, and Houthi attacks. Military power alone no lon
UAE-Israel Ties: Useful but No Middle East Reset
The UAE-Israel partnership has yielded economic and defense gains, but it remains a tactical alignment, not a strategic transformation. Emir
US and China Diverge on Military Vaccination: Two Armies, Two Theories of the Body
The US Defense Department has made flu shots voluntary for service members, breaking a 1945-era mandate. China's PLA continues routine mass
The Donroe Doctrine Is Becoming Everything China Feared
Washington's campaign to evict Chinese port operators from Panama and secure lithium access in Bolivia signals a new, aggressive maritime st
61% of Americans Now View Trump's Iran War as a Mistake, Poll Finds
A new poll reveals 61% of Americans view Trump's Iran war as a mistake, a level of disapproval that took years to reach for Iraq and Vietnam
Iran War Cost to US Taxpayers Sparks Heated Debate Amid Estimates
Iran's foreign minister claims the US war on Iran has cost $100 billion, four times the Pentagon's official estimate. Independent analysts a
Pakistan's Hangor Submarines Deepen China Ties, Challenge India's Naval Dominance
Pakistan has commissioned its first Hangor-class submarine, built in China, as part of an eight-boat program to enhance underwater deterrenc
Kremlin Faces Growing Calls to Intensify Ukraine Offensive as War Fatigue Mounts
Russian President Vladimir Putin faces mounting pressure from nationalist factions and military leaders to escalate the conflict in Ukraine.
Gulf States' Fragile Alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz Under War Stress
The Strait of Hormuz remains largely shut, with vessel traffic at a fraction of pre-war levels. Bypass pipelines provide 3.5-5.5 million bar
Japan-Australia Frigate Deal Cements New Defense Axis in Indo-Pacific
Japan and Australia signed the 'Mogami Memorandum' on April 18, 2026, for 11 next-generation frigates worth up to A$20 billion. The deal sig
Iran Conflict Exposes Diminishing Returns of US Economic Coercion
Two months into the US-Israel war against Iran, the conflict's stalemate highlights the declining effectiveness of US economic sanctions. Ir
US Wars Since 1950 Killed 4.5 Million Civilians, Cost $5.7 Trillion
Major US wars since 1950 have directly killed nearly 4.5 million civilians and cost over $5.7 trillion. The Iran War alone has cost an estim