Caspian Flotilla Highlights Growing International Role of Russia’s Coastal Navy
Islamic State-Inspired Extremist Threat Looms Large in India
The “16+1” Initiative and Poland’s Disengagement from China
Beijing Sends a Menacing Message in Its Lunar New Year Greeting to Taiwan
Introduction The Lunar New Year, which commenced on February 5th, inaugurated the “Year of the Pig” in the Chinese horoscope. The Lunar New Year is China’s largest annual holiday, and a traditional time for family... MORE
The Balochistan Insurgency and the Threat to Chinese Interests in Pakistan
Introduction On November 23, 2018, insurgents of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) attacked the PRC Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan. The assault resulted in the deaths of seven people, including two police officers and three of... MORE
The Chinese Navy’s Marine Corps, Part 2: Chain-of-Command Reforms and Evolving Training
Editor’s Note: This is the second part of a two-part article discussing organizational reforms and evolving missions for the PLA Navy (PLAN) Marine Corps. The first part, in our previous issue, focused on the growing... MORE
A Smarter Battlefield?: PLA Concepts for “Intelligent Operations” Begin to Take Shape
Introduction CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping has shown himself to be a great enthusiast for the subject of artificial intelligence (AI). He is often photographed for propaganda purposes meeting with scientists at various research centers... MORE
Beyond Lies: A New Stage in the Belarus-Russia Information War
On February 13, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka of Belarus and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, met for the fourth time over the course of two months (President.gov.by, February 13; Belta, February 6). As widely predicted, the... MORE
Russian Warnings of Afghan Threats Bring Decreasing Dividends in Central Asia
Over the last month, Russian officials have suggested that militant groups in Afghanistan so threaten the countries of Central Asia that the latter should cooperate more closely with Russia in order to defend themselves. But... MORE
With Prospect of New Sanctions, US-Russian Relations Continue to Deteriorate
A bipartisan bill introduced in the United States Senate—the Defending American Security from Kremlin Aggression Act (DASKA)—has generated significant nervousness in the corridors of power in Moscow. If passed and signed by the US President,... MORE
Oligarchs and Their Media Outlets Influence Ukrainian Presidential Elections
Five years since the EuroMaidan and “Revolution of Dignity” fervently rejected systemic corruption and graft, Ukrainian politics continues to experience enormous influence from local oligarchs. In this environment, Ukraine’s presidential election campaign is in full-swing,... MORE
Armenian-Azerbaijani Talks on Karabakh Appear Positive Even as Conflict Continues to Simmer Underneath
The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan held four-hour-long consultations in Paris, on January 16, under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Minsk Group. The joint statement to come... MORE