Re-shaping Forces for the High-End Fight: The Challenge of Overcoming the Legacy of the Land Wars

10/29/2021
By Robbin Laird With the return of the high-end fight, and the challenge of delivering tailored military capabilities to ensure escalation dominance in the maritime domain, a broadened focus on maneuver warfare in the maritime space has emerged. Distributed operations within a wider capability to integrate the force is a…

European Intervention Initiative: September 2021 Update

10/28/2021
Joint statement, European Intervention Initiative, Meeting of the ministers of Defence in Stockholm, Sweden, 24. September 2021. Since the launch of the European Intervention Initiative in 2018, it has grown to include thirteen European states who share the aim to develop a common strategic culture to meet the challenges facing Europe.…

What Can the European Union Really Do in Defense?

10/27/2021
By Robbin Laird and Pierre Tran The European Union’s pursuit of military and security capabilities can be seen in the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) project, a cooperative framework for the 25 EU member states which have signed up to work together. One of the largest PESCO projects is the European Patrol…

Indian-UK Konkan Shakti 2021 Exercise: October 2021

10/27/2021
By Indian Strategic New Delhi. The sea phase of maiden Tri-Service exercise ‘Konkan Shakti 2021’ between the Armed Forces of India and United Kingdom is being held off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea. On completion of harbour planning phase, the sea phase of the exercise commenced on October 24 and…

Australia and Indonesia Work Maritime Security

10/26/2021
According to an Australian Department of Defence article published on October 24, 2021, Australia and Indonesia are conducted combined maritime patrols. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) have completed a coordinated maritime patrol to enhance security along our shared maritime border as part of AUSINDO CORPAT…

The Australian Submarine Decision: Challenges and Next Steps

10/26/2021
By Robbin Laird The decision by the Morrison Administration to shift from a conventional submarine to a nuclear submarine is part of the strategic reset underway in Australia since 2018. With the Chinese threat ramping up, the Australians have been looking to refocus their defence efforts on the Indo-Pacific region…

Task Force 59: Creating Maritime Capabilities for the 5th Fleet Area of Operations

10/24/2021
In early September 2021, the U.S. Navy set up a new task force to deliver usable unmanned systems for enhanced maritime capabilities in the 5th Fleet Area of Operations. In a story written by MC1 Roland Franklin and published on September 9, 2021 by the U.S. Navy: U.S. Naval Forces…