Wisconsin Guard Artillery Soldiers Train in Extreme Weather
Around 200 Wisconsin National Guard soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 120th Field Artillery Regiment completed an 11‑day cold‑weather training cycle at Fort McCoy from Jan. 21‑31. The exercise emphasized individual tasks, teamwork, and proficiency on M777 and M119 howitzers under sub‑zero temperatures and snow showers. Training mirrored elements of larger drills such as Exercise Northern Strike but on a smaller scale, incorporating arctic tents, heaters, and sling‑load operations. Planning is already underway for a follow‑up event in 2027.
EU Reached a Breakthrough on a €90 Billion Loan for Ukraine
European Union member states have reached a breakthrough agreement to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion support package for 2026‑2027, of which roughly €60 billion is allocated to military aid and €30 billion to budget stabilization and reforms. The financing will be sourced...
Yevgeniya Gaber Joins Ukrainian State News Agency “Ukrinform” To Discuss the Evolution of Turkey-Ukraine Bilateral Relations
Yevgeniya Gaber, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, has joined Ukraine’s state news agency Ukrinform to provide expert commentary on the evolving Turkey‑Ukraine relationship. She emphasizes how Turkey’s strategic calculus balances its ties to Russia with its growing economic...
Spy in the Polish Ministry of Defence
Poland’s Ministry of National Defence detained a middle‑level employee, Władysław P., on February 3 for suspected espionage on behalf of Russian or Belarusian intelligence. The civil servant worked in the Department of Strategy and Defence Planning, which drafts the nation’s core...
Macron: Europe Must Increase Defence Spending
French President Emmanuel Macron announced a defence budget that will exceed 2% of GDP, allocating €413 bn from 2024 to 2030—up from €295 bn in the previous seven‑year period. The 2026 budget reaches €57.2 bn, reflecting annual increases aimed at modernising the armed...
Operation Praying Mantis: That Time America Decimated Iran's Navy
In April 1988 the United States launched Operation Praying Mantis, a massive naval retaliation that destroyed two Iranian oil platforms, sank the frigate Sahand, and eliminated the missile boat Joshan, effectively wiping out half of Iran's operational fleet in a...
New START Expiry: Implications for Europe
On 5 February 2026 the New START treaty – the last formal US‑Russia strategic arms‑control pact – expired, ending quantitative limits on deployed strategic warheads and launchers. While a tentative “handshake” deal may keep the limits informally in place, the treaty’s collapse...
Sweden’s Role in Countering Hybrid Threats in the Baltic Sea Region
Sweden’s accession to NATO has closed the strategic gap in the Baltic Sea, but Russia continues to exploit sub‑threshold hybrid tactics that target critical undersea infrastructure. The alliance’s conventional superiority does not automatically translate into deterrence against sabotage, GPS jamming,...
PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) Completes Builder’s Sea Trials
The Program Executive Office Aircraft Carriers announced that Builder’s Sea Trials for the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) were completed at Newport News Shipbuilding on February 4, 2026. The trials marked the first time the Gerald R. Ford‑class carrier left the pier, testing critical...
Andrew Peek Joins Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative as Inaugural Director
Andrew Peek has been appointed the inaugural director of the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative, housed within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. In this role he will steer efforts to embed resilience as a core pillar...
Texas Guard’s 36th Infantry Division Prepares for Middle East Deployment
The Texas National Guard’s 36th Infantry Division held a farewell ceremony at Camp Mabry before deploying to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield. The division will complete final readiness training and mission validation ahead of a March...
Exercise Cutlass Express 2026 to Enhance Maritime Security in East Africa
The U.S. 6th Fleet’s Cutlass Express 2026 brings together 19 partner nations to boost maritime law‑enforcement capacity in East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. The exercise combines shore‑based and at‑sea training, including VBSS, interdiction, and illegal‑fishing scenarios. It also...
Judge Seems Skeptical of Legal Justification for Pentagon's Punishment of Sen. Mark Kelly
A federal judge expressed skepticism that any Supreme Court precedent justifies the Pentagon’s decision to censure Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy pilot, for appearing in a video urging troops to defy unlawful orders. Kelly’s attorneys argue the censure violates...
There Is Only One Sphere of Influence
The article argues that the United States now enjoys a unique, uncontested sphere of influence across the Western Hemisphere, anchored by overwhelming military spending and deep economic integration. By contrast, China and Russia lack the capacity to establish comparable regional...
Memo to the President: Steps to Secure a Prosperous, US-Aligned Venezuela
Following the January 3 capture of Nicolás Maduro, a memo authored by former U.S. officials outlines a roadmap for Washington to steer Venezuela toward a prosperous, U.S.-aligned future. It calls for immediate benchmarks on human‑rights reforms, dismantling of paramilitary groups, and...
Belarusian Cigarette-Smuggling Balloons in the Polish Airspace. How Should NATO Respond?
Belarusian balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes entered Polish airspace for a third consecutive night, prompting temporary civil‑aviation restrictions in the Podlaskie region. The incursions are viewed as low‑cost, low‑escalation tests of Poland’s air‑defence systems and an attempt to sow friction within...
New American Carrier Undergoing Tests
The USS John F. Kennedy, the second Ford‑class carrier, began its first sea trials in February 2026. Repeated delays caused by elevator, electromagnetic catapult, and arresting‑gear problems pushed delivery from an original 2022 target to mid‑2026 and raised the contract...
The Predatory Hegemon
Stephen M. Walt argues that Donald Trump’s second term embodies a "predatory hegemon" strategy, merging illiberal hegemony with a demand for reciprocity from other states. The piece surveys competing labels—realist, nationalist, mercantilist, imperialist, isolationist—before concluding that Trump’s approach is best...
The Paradox of Wartime Commerce
The article examines why nations continue to trade even amid armed conflict, highlighting the paradox of wartime commerce. It uses the United States‑China relationship as a case study, noting Washington’s push to “de‑risk” supply chains and the 2025 Chinese embargo...
The Cost of UK Gas Security
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s consultation highlights the UK’s growing reliance on imported LNG as North Sea production declines, requiring costly new compressors to reverse gas flow. Rare‑scenario modelling shows a potential £1 billion‑per‑day economic hit if the...
Department of State Has Approved Contracts Worth $15 Billion
The U.S. Department of State has cleared more than $15 billion in arms sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia. Israel’s package, valued at roughly $6.7 billion, includes 30 Apache helicopters and 3,250 light tactical vehicles. Saudi Arabia’s deal, about $9 billion, features 730...
Sikorski Rejects EU Federal Army, Proposes “European Legion”
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski rejected calls for a EU federal army, calling the idea unrealistic, and instead floated a “European Legion” – a volunteer brigade‑size formation open to citizens of member and candidate states. He acknowledged the legion would not...
Moving the Australia-India Maritime Partnership Forward Through Coast Guard Cooperation
Australia and India are seeking to deepen their maritime partnership by moving beyond navy‑to‑navy drills to formalized coast guard cooperation. While the 2020 comprehensive strategic partnership has accelerated naval exercises such as AUSINDEX, civil maritime collaboration remains ad‑hoc and under‑resourced....
Case of Rocket Debris in Poland Under Scrutiny Once Again
On 19 February 2025 a Falcon 9 booster fragment re‑entered uncontrolled and landed on Polish soil, prompting a police seizure and a prosecutor’s decision to drop criminal charges. The European Space Agency has now issued a €200‑500 k tender to independently reconstruct the breakup,...
Peace Through Leverage in Gaza
The Trump administration launched the second phase of its Gaza peace plan, a move endorsed by the UN Security Council in November. Phase one, which began in October, secured a cease‑fire, returned hostages, freed roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and restored...
Tech Dependencies Undermine UK National Security
The UK’s push to curb illegal deep‑fake content on X exposed a broader vulnerability: dependence on US‑based platforms for national‑security enforcement. Recent clashes with Elon Musk and a fine against Cloudflare illustrate how American firms can resist or complicate European...
What to Know About the Strait of Hormuz as Iran Plans Military Drill
Iran announced a live‑fire naval drill in the Strait of Hormuz for Sunday and Monday, targeting a lane within the traffic separation scheme that handles roughly one‑fifth of global oil shipments. The United States Central Command warned Tehran that unsafe...
Will Wind Turbines Obscure Nuclear Tests? What Is MASINT
The UK Ministry of Defence has raised objections to a planned wind‑farm near the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array in Scotland, arguing that turbine vibrations could interfere with the station’s ability to detect seismic signals from nuclear tests. Eskdalemuir is the sole...
Pennsylvania Guard Shapes Army’s Unmanned Aircraft Capabilities
The Pennsylvania National Guard’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training and Innovation Facility demonstrated lethal drone capabilities to Assistant Secretary Brent Ingraham at the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command in New Jersey. Guard soldiers Robert Reed and Brent Wehr provided live feedback...
EU Designated Iran’s IRGC as a Terrorist Organization
The European Union’s foreign ministers have formally listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, marking a sharp policy shift amid Tehran’s crackdown on protests and regional activities. The move, championed by EU foreign‑policy chief Kaja Kallas,...
Police Reform at a Glance: Centralisation and a ‘British FBI’?
Home Secretary Yvette Mahmood unveiled the most extensive police reform in eight decades, proposing a National Police Service (NPS) dubbed the "British FBI" to centralise organised‑crime investigations. The plan aims to boost performance, cut costs and ease jurisdictional friction amid...
Polish Satellites Are Working Properly in Orbit
Creotech Instruments announced that the HyperSat platform on Poland’s PIAST constellation is fully operational after successful commissioning of the PIAST‑S1 and PIAST‑S2 satellites. The three‑satellite fleet, launched on SpaceX’s Transporter‑15 mission on 28 November 2025, has received NORAD identifiers and has already...
Japan’s Nuclear Submarine Debate Gains Momentum Amid Rising Pacific Threats
Japan’s debate over acquiring nuclear‑powered submarines has accelerated as China expands its Pacific naval presence and the United States tacitly accepts South Korea’s program. Proponents argue that only nuclear propulsion can provide the long‑range, high‑endurance capability needed for VLS‑equipped submarines,...
Helicopters Remain a Vital Part of the Joint-Force
Helicopters remain essential to modern joint‑force operations despite recent high‑profile losses. Russian air‑assault failures at Hostomel exposed coordination, intelligence, and air‑defence challenges, while the U.S. operation in Venezuela demonstrated precise, integrated helicopter insertions enabled by extensive SEAD, cyber, and space...
Ukraine’s ‘Kinetic Sanctions’ Change the Game
Ukraine has launched a series of "kinetic sanctions" targeting Russia's shadow‑fleet oil tankers, using maritime drones and alleged limpet mines. Since November, at least eleven tankers – eight carrying crude – have been damaged, driving Black Sea insurance rates up...
Massachusetts National Guard Leaders Deepen Partnership with Paraguay
Massachusetts National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe led a senior delegation to Asunción in January 2026, marking the 25‑year anniversary of the State Partnership Program with Paraguay. The visit featured award ceremonies, the inauguration of new air‑base hangars,...
Washington Guard Lifts WWII-Era Bomber for Move to Museum
The Washington Army National Guard used a CH‑47 Chinook to air‑lift the 83‑year‑old PBY‑5A Catalina bomber from downtown Oak Harbor to the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum. After years of planning, stress testing, and community support, the lift attracted more...
Cracks in the ‘Ironclad’ South Korea-US Alliance
The article argues that the South Korea‑U.S. “ironclad” alliance is under pressure after the Trump administration imposed steep tariffs, demanded a $350 billion investment, and detained Korean workers, while the Biden administration continued protectionist demands. Recent diplomatic episodes, including threats to...
The Latest in Ex-Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill's $25 Million Defamation Lawsuit
Retired Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill has filed a $25 million defamation lawsuit against The Antihero Podcast hosts Tyler Hoover and Brent Tucker, alleging they spread false claims about his role in the 2011 Osama bin Laden raid. The plaintiffs seek to move...
South Korea’s Dilemma over Access to North Korean Media
South Korea has reclassified the North Korean party newspaper Rodong Sinmun from “special” to “general” material, allowing its printed edition to be read in 181 designated public institutions without prior approval. The change, announced in December 2025, marks the first relaxation of...
Batteries as a New Theatre of Geopolitical Rivalry
Europe’s battery market is overwhelmingly dependent on China, with 85‑87% of imports sourced from Beijing. The article warns that a Chinese suspension of battery exports would destabilize Poland’s energy transition, logistics, industrial output, and military readiness, and could similarly cripple...
Why Economic Pain Won’t Stop Russia’s War
Sanctions and economic pressure have strained Russia’s economy, but the war persists. The article argues that historical cases show economic pain rarely forces a state to abandon a large‑scale conflict unless it triggers military defeat, elite fragmentation, or regime collapse....
Old Ships, Modern Menace: How to Tackle the World’s Shadow Fleets
Shadow fleets—aging, flag‑hopping tankers that spoof AIS—now move roughly 12% of global maritime trade and account for at least 48% of the world’s large oil tankers. The United States seized a seventh covert tanker in January 2026, while France and...
Boeing Posts Fourth-Quarter Profit Despite Losses in Commercial Aircraft, Defense Units
Boeing reported a fourth‑quarter profit of $8.2 billion, buoyed by the $10.6 billion sale of its Jeppesen software unit and a record 160 commercial aircraft deliveries. However, its Commercial Airplanes and Defense, Space & Security divisions posted losses of $632 million and $507 million...
AIAA Senior Member Mackey Died in September 2025
Col. Wilfred “Glenn” Mackey, a retired USAF colonel and AIAA senior member, passed away in September 2025. He logged over 4,000 flight hours, served as a Skyraider pilot in Vietnam, and later led test and development programs. After retirement, Mackey...
BRICS Holds a Maritime Exercise at the Indo-Atlantic Crossroads – Without India
BRICS held its inaugural maritime exercise, "Will for Peace 2026," off Simon’s Town, South Africa, from Jan 9‑16, focusing on shipping‑lane safety and interoperability. The drill was led by China with South Africa hosting, and saw participation from China, Russia, Iran, the...
US Warship Pays First Port Call at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base
On Jan. 24, the U.S. Navy’s littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati docked at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, marking the first American warship visit to the facility. The base, recently expanded with Chinese‑funded infrastructure, has been a flashpoint in U.S.–China strategic competition....
What Are China’s New Wolf Warriors Really Fighting For?
China’s “wolf‑warrior” diplomats have re‑emerged as a visible front of aggressive foreign policy, but their rhetoric is driven largely by internal CCP pressures rather than pure external strategy. Recent investigations of senior Central Military Commission members and the removal of...
Indonesia Takes Delivery of First French-Made Rafale Fighter Jets
Indonesia received its first three French‑made Rafale fighter jets on Jan 23, marking the initial delivery of an $8.1 billion contract for 42 aircraft. The jets are now based at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base and will kick‑start pilot training and operational conversion. The...
US Defense Strategy Signals Shift in Korea Defense, Pushing Seoul to Lead
The U.S. Department of Defense’s new National Defense Strategy declares that South Korea must assume primary responsibility for countering North Korean conventional threats, while Washington narrows its role to nuclear extended deterrence. This pivot redirects U.S. resources toward deterring China,...