Photo Credit: NATO The Russian invasion of Ukraine changes the way non-NATO member states prioritize security. There are a variety of reasons why countries do not join NATO, however, these countries are reconsidering as the conflict in eastern Europe approaches its third month. Currently, attention is on the non-NATO Nordic countries of Sweden and Finland. … Continue reading From Nordic to NATO: How Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine May Affect Sweden and Finland
Category: Military & Defense
Why Putin Pulled the Trigger
Photo Credit: Screengrab from YouTube. On February 24 at around 5:00 AM local time, Russian forces invaded Ukraine. This should be unsurprising given the widespread media and government coverage over the preceding months. However, the West is now scrambling for explanations, often resorting to calling Putin an irrational tyrant. Perhaps he is tyrannical, but he … Continue reading Why Putin Pulled the Trigger
Shaping a Generation of Ukrainian Children
Photo Credit: Daily Mail Ukrainian people feared every day Russia could invade, and that fear unfortunately became reality. Media coverage primarily discusses military action and geopolitical consequences, sidelining other groups. The impact of Russian aggression on civilians, especially children, should be a larger part of the discussion on security. The human impact in this conflict … Continue reading Shaping a Generation of Ukrainian Children
We Are All Realists Now
Photo Credit: Dan Rivers For weeks leading up to the invasion and even in the hours afterward, the crisis in Ukraine was flattened into an academic debate, abstracted into a case to be studied. The most politically scientific and least affected among us have been offered the luxury of musing about tangential questions:What might the … Continue reading We Are All Realists Now
“Blinding the Elephant:” Assessing PLA Systems Confrontation and the Fight for Information Dominance
In 2034: A Novel of the Next World War, China and the United States become embroiled in a conflict that centers on information dominance. Naval aviators are unable to communicate with their higher command, aviation control mechanisms are rendered inoperable, and sea cable disruption leads to a communication blackout. This contributes to the U.S. becoming … Continue reading “Blinding the Elephant:” Assessing PLA Systems Confrontation and the Fight for Information Dominance
The Unintended Consequences of AUKUS in the Indo-Pacific
French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi embrace at a meeting earlier this year. Photo Credit: Reuters AUKUS was one of Washington's best-kept secrets. When the deal between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States was announced in mid-September it caught analysts and politicians off guard. The deal included defense technology … Continue reading The Unintended Consequences of AUKUS in the Indo-Pacific
The Need for a Properly Resourced Pacific Deterrence Initiative
US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (left), amphibious assault ships USS Boxer and associated ships conducting operations on October 6, 2019 in the South China Sea. Photo Credit: AFP/ US Navy The foundation of US conventional deterrence in the Indo-Pacific is crumbling. Through its ambitious military modernization program, the global balance of power is shifting … Continue reading The Need for a Properly Resourced Pacific Deterrence Initiative
The U.S. Military’s Greatest Contemporary Adversary: COVID-19
Photo Credit: NavyTimes By sidelining an aircraft carrier, the Covid-19 pandemic has accomplished something that neither China nor Russia ever has.[i] In March of 2020, the USS Theodore Roosevelt made an emergency port call in Guam[ii] due to roughly 25% of its almost 5,000 sailors onboard testing positive for Covid-19.[iii] The outbreak led to the … Continue reading The U.S. Military’s Greatest Contemporary Adversary: COVID-19
Nuclear Disarmament: Why Reaching for Zero Makes Sense
India's Brahmos missile, which was developed jointly with Russia, on display in 2018. Photo Credit: Politico, Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images Nuclear weapons have dominated U.S. security strategy for decades. The overwhelming power of these weapons has captivated the minds of U.S. scholars, strategists, and policymakers alike. However, this fascination with complete annihilation has created an impenetrable bubble around … Continue reading Nuclear Disarmament: Why Reaching for Zero Makes Sense
Kautilya in the Gray Zone: How Russia has Successfully Adopted Two-Thousand Year Old Teachings
"A Russian serviceman is seen behind pro-Russian activists at the Belbek Sevastopol International Airport in the Crimea region, March 4, 2014." Photo credit: Business Insider What do a South Asian statesman from the fourth-century BCE and current members of Russia’s Ministry of Defence have in common? The belief that war should be conducted by incorporating … Continue reading Kautilya in the Gray Zone: How Russia has Successfully Adopted Two-Thousand Year Old Teachings