The U.S. Can’t Exclude China From Latin America
Brian Fonseca argues the United States cannot simply exclude China from Latin America, as Beijing has woven itself into the region’s ports, digital networks, mineral supply chains, and energy systems. He proposes a shift from outright denial to "strategic displacement," targeting sectors where Chinese presence poses the greatest security and economic risks. The piece calls for robust U.S. financing and competitive alternatives to Chinese state‑backed projects, especially in infrastructure, telecommunications, critical minerals, and space. Ultimately, the United States must leverage its geographic proximity and institutional depth to offer viable, diversified partnerships rather than forcing a binary choice between Washington and Beijing.
Iran Launches Deadly Attack on Kuwait’s Main Airport
Iran launched a large‑scale aerial assault on Kuwait International Airport, firing 13 ballistic missiles and 17 drones that killed at least one person and injured more than 60. Kuwait responded by expelling two Iranian diplomats and warned it will not...
The New Weapon Behind Ukraine’s Battlefield Success
Ukraine’s mid‑range strike drones, capable of reaching nearly 100 miles behind Russian lines, have become a decisive factor in the war. The Hornet and FP‑2 platforms deliver payloads up to 440 pounds, enabling attacks on logistics convoys, fuel depots and command...
The U.S. and Taiwanese Militaries Can’t Really Fight Together
Former U.S. Navy rear admiral Mark Montgomery warns that a U.S.-Taiwan joint defense would be hampered by deep interoperability gaps. While Taiwan is moving toward a 5%‑of‑GDP defense budget and the U.S. has earmarked a $14 billion weapons package, the two...
The World’s Mineral Powers Seize Their Moment
A wave of $98 billion in Chinese financing and heightened U.S. diplomatic activity has thrust critical minerals into the geopolitical spotlight. Resource‑rich nations—from the DRC to Brazil and Zambia—are leveraging mineral wealth to negotiate better terms and assert greater control over...
The Epidemic of GPS Jamming
GPS jamming and spoofing are rapidly expanding, disrupting navigation for aircraft and ships worldwide. In early 2025, 123,000 flights were affected, and Russia alone increased its spoofing antennas from three to 36. The International Civil Aviation Organization has publicly named...
Syria Wants to Replace the Strait of Hormuz
Syria’s interim president Ahmed al‑Sharaa is pitching the war‑torn nation as a new overland logistics hub to replace the Strait of Hormuz, leveraging a “zero problems” foreign policy. The pitch has already attracted roughly $28 billion in 2025 investment deals and...
What’s Behind the EU-Mexico Trade Deal?
Mexico and the European Union signed an expanded free‑trade agreement that adds services, farm produce, and investment protections to the original industrial‑goods pact. The EU pledged about $5.8 billion in investments aligned with President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Plan Mexico. The deal arrives as...
No Commodity Is Safe From the Iran War
The Iran‑Iran war’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has halted roughly one‑fifth of global LNG and petroleum shipments, exposing the world’s reliance on Gulf by‑products. The disruption has cascaded into shortages of sulfur, helium, nitrogen, aluminum and naphtha, tightening...
Can the U.S. End Nigeria’s Insurgency?
The United States has broadened joint airstrikes with Nigeria, eliminating a top ISWAP commander and killing 175 militants in the northeast, the insurgency’s epicenter. Washington touts the strikes as civilian‑casualty‑free, a stark contrast to Nigerian‑only operations that often hit non‑combatants....
Indonesia’s Dive Into Economic Nationalism
Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto announced that all exports of selected raw materials will be funneled through a new state‑owned enterprise under the Danantara holding. The move is pitched as a way to combat under‑invoicing, which the government estimates cost $6.5 billion...
Trump Is Treating Taiwan Like Collateral
The United States has paused a $14 billion arms package for Taiwan, a move framed by President Donald Trump as a “negotiating chip” during his summit with China’s Xi Jinping. Senate testimony revealed that Beijing is leveraging the delay to block...
U.S. Launches ‘Self-Defense’ Strikes on Iran
The United States launched self‑defense strikes on Iran’s southern missile sites and naval vessels, killing at least four Iranian sailors, just hours after President Trump announced that cease‑fire talks were progressing. Tehran condemned the attacks as a grave violation and...
The Book About the U.S. Military That Everyone Should Be Reading Now
Kori Schake’s new book *The State and the Soldier* examines the U.S. civil‑military relationship through two stress tests—whether a president can dismiss senior officers and whether officers will execute lawful orders they oppose. Using the 2025 Quantico briefing and Trump’s...
The Next Pandemic Will Come From a Conflict Zone
A new Ebola outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province and quickly spread to Uganda, prompting the WHO to issue a public‑health emergency of international concern without an emergency committee—a first. The authors argue that the...