Clearly, Europe is in the throes of fundamental change. Clusters of states such as the Northern European states are sorting out paths forward within an evolving European context, while Brexit and the crisis of integration of Europe along the lines set in the 1990s atrophies. Clearly, a new nationalism has…
By Robbin Laird During my time in Canberra during August 2018, one key point of conversation was the question of the impact of the evolution of Europe on Australian policies, and policy flexibility. The uncertainty hanging over Europe with regard to Brexit and the UK’s role in Europe, plus the…
The UK MoD opened up a new military support hub last year to support UK force operations. A recent article on the UK MoD website highlighted the development. Defence Minister Stuart Andrew visited the £83 million Defence Fulfilment Centre (DFC) after touring the armoury and current logistic facilities on-site at…
By Robbin Laird On August 23, 2018, the Williams Foundation in Canberra, Australia held its latest seminar on military modernization. This seminar focused on the evolution of joint strike and the importance for Australia to develop an independent deterrent. One of the key elements of discussion was the evolving nature…
By Robbin Laird On August 23, 2018, the Williams Foundation held its latest seminar, this one on independent strike. The seminar represents a next phase of examination of the way ahead for the ADF. Over the past five years, the seminars have focused on the introduction of the F-35 and the…
We have focused for some time on the question of the return of the nuclear issue for US and allied defense. Our colleague, Paul Bracken, has forcefully focused on this issue in his work on the second nuclear age, and his work has certainly underscored the forceful return of the…
By Robbin Laird We have argued for more than a decade that leveraging fifth generation aircraft allowed for the re-norming of airpower. With the evolution of the F-35 and with the buy of the aircraft by several key allies, those allies are starting to introduce the aircraft into their forces,…
By Todd Miller The 22ndMarine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) VMM-264 Reinforced takes us on board the USS Kearsarge during deployment work-ups For many, the Marines will always be defined by the tenacious and bloody battles in the South Pacific during WWII. Rightly so. Today, these specialists in amphibious warfare and mobility…
