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,…
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…
By Pierre Tran Paris – France and Sweden have offered the Rafale and Gripen to Ukraine, raising questions of practicality and financing, but an eventual delivery of the fighter jets could not be ruled out, the Estonian ambassador to France, Viljar Lubi, said Dec. 16. “These are big deals, difficult…
Dr. Paul Bracken stands at the crossroads of political science, management, and technology as a renowned professor at Yale University. Holding dual appointments in the Yale School of Management and the Department of Political Science, he has spent decades influencing both intellectual and practical approaches to complex, high-stakes issues facing…
