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Korea: Why the UN’s Presence at the DMZ Still Matters
In an era increasingly defined by geopolitical volatility, the continued presence of a multinational force dedicated not to conquest but to deterrence offers a reminder that peace often depends on institutions that receive little public attention. Few examples illustrate this…
Franco-British Hormuz Mission Tests Europe’s Ability to Secure Shipping After Iran Deal
France and Britain are pushing a multinational maritime mission for the Strait of Hormuz, but the practical test will be whether Iran accepts any foreign security presence and whether insurers judge the waterway safe enough for normal traffic to resume.…
UK Forces Intercept Sanctioned Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker in English Channel
Britain’s first seizure of a vessel linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” marks a notable escalation in the West’s increasingly sophisticated effort to constrain the Kremlin’s war economy. Yet the dramatic operation in the English Channel also unfolded against an…
NATO’s Kosovo Drawdown Signals Confidence — but Not Complacency
NATO’s decision to begin gradually reducing the size of its peacekeeping mission in Kosovo marks an important milestone in one of the alliance’s longest-running operations. Yet it also serves as a reminder that stability in the Western Balkans remains a…
Poland Proposes New Permanent US Military Base Amid Uncertainty Over American Troop Posture
Poland has formally proposed the creation of a new permanent United States military base on its territory, as Warsaw seeks to reinforce the American military presence on NATO’s eastern flank amid uncertainty over future US deployments in Europe. Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz,…
Scaled-back BALTOPS drill highlights NATO’s maritime stretch in the Baltic
NATO’s annual Baltic Sea naval exercise will begin this week at roughly half last year’s scale, underlining both the alliance’s continuing focus on the region and the pressure on Western naval resources from commitments elsewhere. The US-led BALTOPS exercise will…
US troop uncertainty in Lithuania exposes eastern-flank dependence on Washington
The future presence of American troops in Lithuania is under review, according to the country’s defence minister, raising questions over the continuity of US deployments on NATO’s eastern flank at a time of wider uncertainty over Washington’s military posture in…
Belarus Nuclear Drills Raise Pressure on NATO’s Eastern Flank
Belarus has begun training linked to the use of Russian nuclear weapons, adding a new military signal on NATO’s eastern border as Moscow and Minsk deepen their defence integration. Belarus said on Monday that its armed forces had begun training…
Tokyo Clearly Understands the Taiwan Threat Better Than Donald Trump Does
For decades, Japan’s post-war military posture was defined by restraint, caution and constitutional ambiguity. Yet in the increasingly dangerous waters of the western Pacific, a new realism is taking hold in Tokyo — and not a moment too soon. This…
NATO Concludes Second Neptune Strike Iteration
NATO has concluded the second 2026 iteration of Neptune Strike, a maritime-led enhanced vigilance activity designed to test allied strike integration, deterrence, and readiness across several operational domains. NATO has concluded the second 2026 iteration of Neptune Strike, its maritime-led…