By Kenneth Maxwell A crisis at the Strait of Hormuz was always coming. The Wall Street Journal reported on March 10, 2026 that Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline and the UAE's smaller Habshan-Fujairah pipeline are now among the most critical pieces of infrastructure in the world economy, the only overland arteries…
By Pierre Tran Paris - President Emmanuel Macron started Feb. 17 an official visit to India, a few days after the defense ministry in New Delhi said it had given the green light for contract talks for a further batch of Rafale and missiles, with local media reports of a…
During the first Obama Administration, as American defense policy pivoted toward Asia and grappled with budget pressures following the financial crisis, a critical question emerged: Where did the United States Coast Guard fit in the nation's strategic framework? For decades, the Coast Guard had operated somewhat in the shadows of…
In November 2015, Kenneth Maxwell wrote an essay looking ahead to the coming Trump presidency and we are republishing that essay as a baseline reminder of one element of the launch into a new historical epoch. Reading his piece today, in January 2026 reveals both how much Maxwell understood about…
By Robbin Laird November 2025 articles published in The Australian reveal a troubling disconnect at the heart of Australian policy toward China, one that raises fundamental questions about how democracies should respond to authoritarian pressure while maintaining essential economic relationships. The contrast between Foreign Minister Penny Wong's carefully calibrated diplomatic…
John Blackburn, Air Vice Marshal (Retired) of the Royal Australian Air Force, stands as a leading Australian figure in advancing the discourse on national resilience, from traditional defense concepts to critical infrastructure protection and energy security. His journey, professional background, major published works, and founding of the Institute for Integrated…
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…
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,…
