By Lucas Bertolo Kim Jong-un arrived this Wednesday in Vladivostok on his armored train. It is his first time in his northern neighbor since he took power eight years ago. It is going to be also his first meeting with Vladimir Putin. The summit will take place at the Far…
By Robbin Laird After the recent Williams Foundation Seminar which focused on the evolution of Australian defense capabilities and policies, I had a chance to discuss the changing context for Australian policy and the challenge of reshaping the Australian policy approach with Brendan Sargeant. Sargeant is currently Honorary Professor at…
By Richard Weitz The U.S. Congress has a welcome opportunity to end U.S. dependence on Russian rocket engines for its national security satellites. However, Congress needs to proceed with the existing agreed timetable to avoid unnecessary deals that risk U.S. national security. Members recognize that the United States can leverage…
By Robbin Laird The Australian Defence Force (ADF) shaped a joint force which was able to self-deploy to the Middle East. With the RAAF's new force package of advanced tanker, the C-17 and Wedgetail, the ADF experienced a joint capability which it had not had before, one which was featured…
Norway has accelerated plans to scale up its national security infrastructure against threats emanating from the cyber domain. In late January 2019, the Norwegian government released two documents highlighting its approach. "This strategy is intended to address the challenges that will inevitably arise in conjunction with the rapid and far-reaching…
The Norwegians are pursuing enhanced satellite coverage for Arctic defense and security. In a press release issued last year on March 23, 2018, the requirement was identified. Today, broadband coverage in the High North is poor and unstable. The Government now wants Norwegian satellites to make broadband communications available in…
By Pierre Tran Paris, France France and Germany need to update a 1972 joint agreement on arms exports, a bilateral pact which has economic bearing on a planned European fighter jet, the future combat air system or FCAS. Eric Trappier, chairman of GIFAS, highlighted the challenge at the GIFAS press…
By Robbin Laird The strategic shift from the land wars in the Middle East to the challenges of facing the 21st century authoritarian powers has recast the defense challenges facing the liberal democracies. Direct defense has returned as the core challenge facing the European states, even while the EU is…
