By Robbin Laird The January 3, 2026 U.S. operation in Venezuela can be understood not as an isolated hemispheric intervention, but as a deliberate strike against Russia's external energy ecosystem and sanctions-evasion machinery, designed to erode Moscow's war-fighting capacity in Ukraine over time. What is being reordered is not merely…
By Robbin Laird While finalizing my book to be published later this year, The Lessons From the Drone Wars, I watched a fascinating Wall Street Journal video which highlighted how a drone command center in Ukraine was operating against the Russian aggressor. Throughout the video they showed calibrated attacks on…
The Second Line of Defense effort has been focused on providing a venue for the expression of fresh thinking about the way ahead to deal with global challenges and defense innovation which can allow the military forces of the liberal democracies to compete effectively with their authoritarian competitors. Second Line…
By Robbin Laird The deepening partnership between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) is increasingly at the center of Australia’s defense strategy for the Indo-Pacific. While recent commentary has emphasized the risks of deepened integration for Australian sovereignty, this narrative can underestimate the many advantages…
By Pierre Tran Paris - Saab, the Swedish builder of the Gripen fighter jet, appears to have emerged as a potential plan B for Airbus Defence and Space, if a Franco-German €100 bln ($116 bln) project for a European future combat air system fails to take off. A Dec. 18…
Dr. Richard Weitz stands as a prominent figure in the realm of political-military analysis, recognized for his in-depth research, policy contributions, and prolific writing. Over decades of dedicated service in academia, think tanks, and policy advisory roles, Dr. Weitz has shaped conversations on security dynamics across Europe, Eurasia, East Asia,…
By Robbin Laird At Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina, a quiet transformation is reshaping the future of American heavy-lift aviation. Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302, known by its call sign HMHT-302, has changed in mission by becoming the training squadron now for the CH-53K. What…
By Robbin Laird As I reflect on 2025 from my vantage point as a defense analyst with over four decades of experience observing military transformation and strategic shifts, this year stands out as a watershed moment in the evolution of warfare and international security architecture. The patterns I witnessed throughout…
