Zelenskiy says Europe bears responsibility for Ukraine’s air defense gaps
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has delivered his sharpest rebuke yet of European allies, accusing them of leaving Ukraine’s air defences effectively “empty” at a critical moment as Russian ballistic missiles battered the country’s energy infrastructure and pushed it to the edge of a nationwide blackout. Speaking in Kyiv, Zelenskiy said promised Pac-3 interceptor missiles for […]
How Trump’s Iran moves are reshaping relations with Arab allies
Anxiety is growing in several Gulf Arab states that the mounting pressure from President Donald Trump on Iran may be pushing the United States towards taking military action, even as these countries are calling for restraint and a diplomatic solution. Diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Turkiye have told Washington […]
U.S. puts brakes on Islamic State detainee transfers to Iraq
The United States has slowed the transfer of Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq, according to seven sources familiar with the matter, following pressure from Baghdad and renewed calls for foreign governments to repatriate their own nationals. The US military announced on January 21 that it had begun transferring detainees after the rapid collapse […]
Is US counter-terrorism being radically rewritten under Trump?
Just one year into Donald Trump’s second term, US counter-terrorism policy has undergone a sweeping transformation. The administration has dramatically expanded the definition of who qualifies as a terrorist, rapidly growing the official list of designated groups and reshaping how Washington justifies the use of force abroad. The changes mark a sharp departure from decades […]
Why today’s US military moves near Iran stop short of June 2025
The United States is quickly escalating its military presence off the coast of Iran, which could be an indication of a possible direct attack. Some of the military units that have been deployed in the past few days include the USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that is currently operating in the Arabian Sea, […]
The rise of Nordic-Baltic states as Europe’s security backbone
When US President Donald Trump escalated the Greenland crisis in early January by insisting on American ownership of the island and refusing to rule out military force, Denmark did not face the pressure alone. Nordic and Baltic capitals moved quickly to close ranks, offering political backing and diplomatic coordination. This rapid response was not improvised. […]
Kim Jong Un signals major expansion of North Korea’s nuclear and missile arsenal
A new plan has been announced by North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un to greatly develop and modernise North Korea’s nuclear and missile programme. This announcement comes after a series of missile launches that have heightened concern and tension in South Korea, Japan and the United States. In the KCNA’s (Korean Central News Agency) Wednesday […]
What comes next for Trump’s Iran strategy
“We’re watching Iran,” U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday as he returned from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “We have a big flotilla going in that direction, and we’ll see what happens.” For the past week, a U.S. carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has been moving west […]
Russia uses cash incentives, prisoner releases and foreign recruits to boost forces in Ukraine
For Russia’s average wage earners, it is a financial windfall. For prisoners enduring abuse and harsh conditions, it offers a path out of jail. For immigrants and foreign workers, it promises simplified citizenship and steady income. The requirement is the same for all: sign a military contract and fight in Ukraine. Nearly four years into […]
Xi’s military dominance and next phase of power consolidation
Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s decision to put two of the country’s most senior generals under investigation has sent shockwaves throughout Beijing’s political and military elite. This has left Xi Jinping alone at the top of the massive military structure of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and raises profound questions about the stability, effectiveness, and future […]