Latest Articles about Military/Security
![](/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Russian-nuclear-weapons-640x406.jpg)
Moscow Clarifies Its Nuclear Deterrence Policy
President Vladimir Putin issued a decree (ukaz) that signed into law a new strategic document: “The Foundations of Russian Federation State Policy on Nuclear Deterrence (“Osnovi Gosudarstvennoy Politiki Rossyskoy Federatsii v Oblasty Yadernogo Sderdzivanya”). The adopted planning text describes the reasons Russia requires a robust... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Khmeimim-Airbase-Russian-jet-640x360.jpg)
Moscow Plans Enhanced Military Basing in Syria
Moscow plans to increase its military basing presence in Syria, building on its main existing agreements with the Bashar al-Assad regime in relation to the Khmeimim airbase in Latakia province and the naval logistical facility in Tartus. While these facilities will also be expanded, on... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Azerbaijan-May-2020-exercises-640x360.jpg)
With Karabakh Conflict Negotiations Deadlocked, Regional Players Heighten Military Rhetoric
The month of May is important from the perspective of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict because it marks the anniversaries of both the occupation of Azerbaijan’s Shusha city and Lachin districts (rayons) as well as the later signing of the “ceasefire agreement”—the terms of which are still... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Russian-Arctic-oil-640x427.jpeg)
Russia’s Energy Strategy 2035: A Breakthrough or Another Impasse?
On April 2, Russia adopted the “Energy Strategy 2035” (ES-2035) planning document (Minenergo.gov.ru, April 2). As noted by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, the country’s fuel and energy complex (FEC) is a driver of domestic economic growth; therefore, “we need to start planning now for... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Belarus-coronavirus-640x360.jpg)
Kremlin Considers Renewed Interference in Belarus Under Guise of Coronavirus Crisis Response
After Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka rejected the Kremlin’s so-called integration ultimatum at the end of 2019, and following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announced constitutional changes, the following January, to effectively reset his presidential term tally to zero (see EDM, January 14, 16, March 16), some... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Lavrov-and-Taliban-in-Moscow-2-640x428.jpg)
Russian Influence Grows in Central Asia
The Russian Federation is strengthening its economic integration with several Central Asian states. At the beginning of April, the authorities of Uzbekistan and Russia agreed to set up an economic cooperation program in May that would take into account the influence of the novel coronavirus... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Andrzej-Duda-and-Polish-military-640x427.jpg)
Poland Updates Its Security Strategy
On May 12, 2020, President Andrzej Duda approved the new Security Strategy of the Republic of Poland (“Strategia Bezpieczeństwa Narodowego”—SBN) (Bbn.gov.pl, May 12), which replaces long-outdated version from 2014 (Bbn.gov.pl, November 5, 2014). The SBN is the country’s most important strategic document regarding security and... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/HYDZ8.png)
Chinese Incursions Into Vietnamese Waters, Security Implications for the Region, and the Potential Role of India
Introduction: China Renews Its Maritime Sovereignty Claims at the Expense of Vietnam The outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic that began in the Chinese city of Wuhan has not deterred the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from pursuing its long-term strategic vision of asserting its... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Iran-Caspian-fleet-640x356.jpg)
Iran Expanding Its Naval Presence in the Caspian
Western analysts tend to focus on the Iranian navy almost exclusively in terms of its ability to harass or block oil tankers coming through the Strait of Hormuz, an understandable perspective given the danger that Iran could disorder world oil markets if it was successful... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Russia-Open-Skies.jpg)
Washington Pulls out of Open Skies Treaty, Distressing Allies but Pleasing Moscow
President Donald Trump announced, on May 21, that the United States would be withdrawing from the 1992 Treaty on Open Skies, which permits reciprocated surveillance overflights of participating members’ military facilities as a confidence-building measure. The treaty depositary countries (Canada and Hungary) were sent official... MORE