Germany and Its Strategic Future: A Perspective from the German Ministry of Defence on Evolving Scenarios

11/04/2018
By J. Paul de B. Taillon Will the international world order erode? Will value systems drift apart? Will globalization be stopped in its tracks? Just 10 years ago, in 2008, the Western world was experiencing the worst financial crisis since the Black Thursday crash of 29 October 1929. Through the financial storms that…

The Chinese Belt and Road Initiative in Historic Perspective

10/27/2018
By Captain Paul E. Mawn USN (Retired) Access to and the distribution of petroleum was an underlying foundation for the Allied victory in World War II, in particular due to: Ample US hydrocarbon resources and refining capacity Close knit cooperation between the USA and the oil industry Significant expansion of…

French Ministry of Defence Launches Next-Gen Aircraft Carrier Study

10/26/2018
By Pierre Tran France has launched 18-month studies for a next-generation aircraft carrier to replace its Charles de Gaulle capital ship, Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said. “This step, which is being launched today, is the study step,” Parly said at the Oct. 23 opening of the Euronaval trade show.…

Direct Defense of Norway and the Role of NATO: The Norwegian MoD Explains to the Norwegian People

10/21/2018
Recently, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence created a web page and posted a video explaining to the Norwegian population about the coming Trident Juncture exercise and what the core focus of Norwegian defense unfolding in the current period. What follows is our translation (with apologies to our Norwegian friends) of…

Shaping Direct Defense of Northern Europe: 21st Century Challenges and Solutions

10/18/2018
By Robbin Laird A recent conference sponsored by our partner Risk Intelligence and hosted by the Atlantic Danish Atlantic Treaty Organization focused on “Threat Perception 2018: The Northern European Perspective.” Programme - Threat Perception In effect, the focus of the conference was the nature of the challenges and ways ahead…

Japan and Australia: Working Their Strategic Dynamic

10/13/2018
We consider the evolution of the Australian-Japanese relationship as one of the most critical ones which can affect the reshaping of deterrent capabilities and relations in the Pacific. Both countries are pushing out their defense perimeters to deal with the expanded reach of the Chinese.  Both are introducing new capabilities,…

The Return of Direct Defense In Northern Europe

10/12/2018
By Robbin Laird October 11, 2018, the Danish Atlantic Treaty organization hosted a conference sponsored by our partner Risk Intelligence entitled, “Threat Perception 2018: The Northern European Perspective.” The hosts will provide a full report of the proceedings of the day. The conference provided a detailed look at the presentations…