In this speech, US Ambassador Eric Garcetti discusses the recent state visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States and emphasizes the strong bond between the US and India. He highlights the high expectations that come with such visits and states that this visit yielded concrete
The establishment of the US Space Force (USSF) in 2019 marked a significant development in space capabilities for national security and beyond. Space systems have become increasingly essential for modern military operations, impacting weather monitoring, surveillance, intelligence, communications,
In its third year of existence, the US Space Force fielded combat-ready forces in the presentation of service components assigned to combatant commanders. On order of the Secretary of Defense, US Space Forces Indo-Pacific was the first of these component commands to activate and begin integrating
The following is a transcript of US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper’s 24 March 2023 address to the students and faculty of Vietnam’s Foreign Trade University. The ambassador talked about the growth of the US–Vietnam economic relationship and the opportunities to strengthen
This article discusses the journey of the United States and Vietnam in developing a strong partnership from being former enemies. It highlights the challenges that the two countries faced in their journey toward normalized ties. It also presents how the two governments showed willingness to
The United States and its allies and partners should increase their focus on Borneo, as Indonesia begins breaking ground on its ambitious project to relocate its national capital to the Indonesian part of the island starting in 2024. The Indonesian government says it wants its new capital,
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In the pursuit of a free Indo-Pacific, collaborative efforts between the US and the Philippines are indispensable. Strengthening their enduring security pact holds paramount importance. This article delves into their innovative approach through nodal defense, enhancing strategic posture,
The development of lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) has sparked a wide-ranging debate on their use and regulation. This article delves into the contrasting perspectives of optimism, pessimism, and realism surrounding LAWS. Optimists view LAWS as a revolution in military affairs, while
Diplomatic efforts to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have stalled since fall 2022. Iran expressed willingness to cooperate, contrasting with uncertainty from the West. Recent talks on a “trigger or snap back mechanism” risk prompting Iran to suspend Treaty on the
The 2022 National Security Strategy underscores the United States’ challenges amid the era of great-power competition, characterized by shifting geopolitical dynamics and a complex rules-based order. Meeting these challenges necessitates forging partnerships and alliances, particularly in the
This article analyzes the unsuccessful transfer of control from US troops to the South Vietnamese Army during the Vietnam War between 1969 and 1975. It argues that a more thorough analysis of some factors is necessary to understand the transfer’s failure. Through this approach, the article
In response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Europe and the United States levied a series of economic sanctions, which prompted Moscow to retaliate by cutting Russia’s natural gas supplies to Europe by 80 percent. This crisis not only affected Europe’s energy security but also
The article delves into the complex dynamics of India’s foreign policy vis-à-vis Iran and examines the challenges it poses. The study introduces two key concepts namely Iran’s role as a geopolitical pivot and India’s extended neighborhood, to provide a framework
The intensifying great-power competition between the United States and China, exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the unification tensions surrounding Taiwan, has compelled nations to align themselves and bolster their defenses. This study explores the munitions industrial bases
This article introduces a novel spacepower theory that draws inspiration from maritime concepts. Unlike previous theories that categorized space elements into brown space or blue space, this theory presents four distinct elements: brown space, green space, blue space, and terrestrial effects.
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Amid the intricate expanse of the South China Sea (SCS), enduring disputes intricately involve multiple nations. China deftly employs a strategic hybrid warfare approach, adroitly harnessing nonmilitary forces such as coast guards to execute coercive actions, thereby propelling its territorial and
This article employs economic and political theory to elucidate a novel approach by which China seeks to gain military advantages through a technological surge. It specifically posits that Beijing intends to expedite economic efficiency by investing in advanced technologies. Simultaneously, the
India and Russia have had a long-standing security cooperation partnership, with India relying heavily on Russian weapons and equipment for its armed forces. However, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Make in India initiative in 2014 to develop the country’s defense
The repeated missile launches by North Korea pose a growing threat to Japan and the US mainland beyond the Korean peninsula. In response, South Korea is developing a missile defense system and a kill chain, but the increasingly diversified missile types and launch methods make it difficult to keep
This article analyzes the long-standing cooperation between Brazil and China in the satellite sector, which has received little attention in the literature despite its strategic importance. The competition for the use of outer space, in which China and the United States are key players,
This article delves into the relationships among the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) countries and their approaches to space debris management. As the Quad nations enhance their collaboration in space exploration and security, this study addresses three key research questions. Firstly, it
This article argues that airpower’s effectiveness is not solely defined by technological advantage, control of air, or capability to undertake strategic or tactical air strikes but rather by the synergy between the services and members of alliances and the adaptability of industry and people.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022 sparked growing concern among many that Taiwan may be the next nation to suffer from the revanchist policies of a totalitarian regime. As the war continues to drag on, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Taiwan can learn valuable lessons
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This article contends that the US Navy should increase investment in “soft” capabilities such as civil affairs and the Seabees to effectively deter China in the Pacific. It asserts that the expanding influence of China in the South Pacific poses a threat to US military logistics and
This article examines the evolving strategic significance of Sri Lanka in the context of the power rivalry between the United States, China, and India in the Indo-Pacific region. Sri Lanka’s location and its role as a potential hub in the Sea Lines of Communication have attracted the attention
The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) framing of its purpose and the propaganda employed within China has stirred an ultranationalist—perhaps even jingoistic—public, who insist on nothing short of restoring China’s mythical “Middle Kingdom” status from the past. The
President Joe Biden’s upcoming two-day state-level visit to Vietnam on 10–11 September 2023, presents a pivotal moment in US–Vietnam relations. This visit, at the invitation of Communist Party Vietnam’s General-Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, underscores the commitment of both
This article examines the United Kingdom’s Indo-Pacific policy as outlined in the Integrated Review Refresh 2023: Responding to a More Contested and Volatile World (IR23). Released in March 2023, this foreign policy and national security paper builds upon the Global Britain in a
This article provides a concise analysis of historical perspectives and geopolitical theories, with a focus on Lord Hastings “Pug” Ismay’s tripartite strategy and its implications for contemporary security policies. By examining Ismay’s strategy and its context, the article
This article explores the imperative for Taiwan to proactively adapt its island defense strategy to effectively counter the aggressive actions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and maintain a strong deterrent capability. Urgent implementation of asymmetric approaches is advocated, positioning
This article analyzes the geopolitical landscape in East Asia, focusing on the possibility of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. It explores China’s strategic objectives, military preparations, and the challenges it would face in executing such an operation. Despite China’s growing military
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This book review critically examines three recent speculative fiction novels that depict a hypothetical war between the United States and China: Ghost Fleet, 2034, and White Sun War. The author explores the role of these novels in stimulating strategic thinking and policy discussions
Book Review: Red Dragon Flanker: China’s Prolific ‘Flanker’ Family, by Andreas Rupprecht. Houston: Harpia Publishing, 2022. 253 pp.
Dual Book Review: Understanding the India-China Border: The Enduring Threat of War in High Himalaya, by Manoj Joshi. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022; and Armed Coexistence: The Dynamics of the Intractable Sino-Indian Border Dispute, by Stephen Westcott. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan,
Book Review: Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China, by Hal Brands and Michael Beckley. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2022.
Book Review: China’s Good War: How World War II Is Shaping a New Nationalism, by Rana Mitter. Harvard University Press, 2020 (ISBN 9780674984264)
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Traditionally, power is measured by states’ ability to coerce using hard power; however, the diffusion of power largely due to increased interdependence and advanced technology development has rendered these traditional sources of power less effective in achieving desired outcomes. Today, it
First, this article discusses openness and selective US interests in an openness strategy. Second, recognizing that power comes from many sources, this article discusses leveraging the diplomatic, information, economic, then military (DIME) instruments of power to address China’s rise and
A selective engagement strategy in East Asia requires diplomatic and economic cooperation and confrontation, as well as information and military competition. This article will provide a background on China’s growing influence in East Asia, outline a grand strategy of selective engagement, and
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This article examines, first, Military-Civil Fusion’s origins and organizational framework, along with its execution today under President Xi Jinping. The analysis documents key economic and political interactions among MCF’s various stakeholders. Additionally, the article uses as an
This article provides a recommended definition of lawfare, contrasts the United States’ and China’s use of lawfare in the South China Sea, and discusses potential options for the United States’ strategic legitimization and operationalization of lawfare.
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the United States has arguably exercised the most powerful global military imbalance the world has ever seen. This domination; however, is perceived to be fading in the wake of a new possible contender. The tension and likelihood of conflict between the United
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The United States military has executed 33 stability operations as opposed to 16 combat operations since 1898. The stabilization activities were frequently ineffective and regularly left occupied countries in a worse condition after US forces left than prior to arrival. Several underlying problems
The 2020 Irregular Warfare Annex to the National Defense Strategy acknowledges that the US military historically repeats a “boom-and-bust” cycle in its institutional competency for irregular warfare. The annex charges special operations forces to avoid the mistakes of the past by
China has invested in several American industries since its entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001. Once an engine for American soft power, Hollywood has seen a dramatic increase in investment from China, with deals being valued at billions of dollars. The resulting financial influence has
This paper examines the prospect of Korean Unification and the possibility of a future unified Korean Armed Forces. I make arguments for the likelihood of unification and the possible means by which it might unfold, both from the perspective of regional players and that of the two Koreas. These two
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