2014-01-31 Ukraine is currently in upheaval. The Russians are pressuring Ukraine to stay in their orbit. Yet many Ukrainian citizens wish to expand their relationship with the West and with the European Union. Is Ukrainian sovereignty the key driver for Western support? Or is it concerns for supporting Russia’s sphere of…
2014-01-27 by Robbin Laird Secretary Gates has done the nation a service by writing his memoirs. His work provides useful insights into his thinking and approach as well as providing a unique look at the working styles of two very different Presidents. The book is quite revealing about the man himself. …
2014-01-24 The Ukraine remains within the Russian zone of influence is the stark reality of global politics today. The Euro crisis and the pressure on NATO to operate within the Euro-Med region leave it with precious few resources to add members. The result has been the Russians working hard to…
2014-01-19 By Stephen Blank Ten years after the American invasion Iraq is in danger of disintegration. Its stability cannot be taken for granted or even assumed. Evidently Iraq is not far from being a failed state and Syria is already deep in the throes of protracted civil war. Both states may…
2014-01-16 During a visit to Denmark in 2011, SLD had a chance to discuss the nature of the Arctic completion or perhaps better co-opetition with Admiral Nils Wang, Commandant of the Royal Danish Defence College and former head of the Danish Navy. http://sldinfo.wpstage.net/a-danish-perspective-on-the-challenge-of-arctic-security/ Recently, Admiral Wang has coauthored a report with…
2014-01-11 By Harald Malmgren During 2013 the Eurozone financial crisis seems to have dissipated. Optimistic words spoken by high level Eurocrats asserted that the EZ economy had turned the corner and was gradually recovering, with 1.0% GDP growth likely in 2014. ECB President Draghi said repeatedly that the ECB “would do…
2014-01-09 By Robbin Laird Japanese national security strategy is in evolution. In the most recent national security strategy, the Japanese government highlighted its latest iteration of what they called earlier “dynamic defense.” In an earlier piece, I wrote about the Japanese defense white paper of 2012 and highlighted the following:…
2014-01-02 Normally, a decision by a relatively small air force to purchase combat aircraft is of significance to the competitors and not to the global market. But the decision by Brazil to purchase the new variant of Gripen comes at the juncture of several other market decisions which bring legacy…
