Latest Articles about Military/Security
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Chechen Insurgency Leader Doku Umarov Tells Chechens Not to Fight in Syria
Over the past several months, various sources have raised the issue of Chechen involvement in the armed uprising in Syria. Few doubt that Chechens have been present in the conflict-ridden country. The question is how central their position is in the anti-Assad armed opposition.First of... MORE
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Poor Performance in Makhachkala Suburb Reflects Continuing Flaws in Russian Counter-Insurgency Operations
A special operation in the Makhachkala suburb of Semender that lasted from the morning of March 20 to the evening of March 23 illuminated both a lack of skills in the Russian security services and a lack of control over the situation. It is hard... MORE
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The Second Artillery Force in the Xi Jinping Era
New Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary, Central Military Commission (CMC) Chairman and PRC President Xi Jinping’s early interactions with the PLA Second Artillery Force (PLASAF) have sparked a considerable amount of speculation about the future of China’s strategic missile force under his leadership. Late... MORE
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Taming the Five Dragons? China Consolidates its Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies
China's new leadership recently announced its intention to reorganize its separate maritime law enforcement agencies under one governing body. State Council Secretary General Ma Kai announced the changes on March 10 at the 12th National People's Congress as part of broad institutional reforms involving the... MORE
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South Sea Fleet Exercises Shine Spotlight on Tensions
Tensions in the South China Sea once again appear to be on the rise as recent Chinese naval activity has attracted the attention of regional actors. On March 26, Hanoi publicly complained that a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessel had set a Vietnamese fishing... MORE
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NDN ‘Reverse Transit,’ Uzbekistan and the Failure of Western Grand Strategy (Part One)
Over the past several years, countries participating in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan diversified their air and ground lines of communications (LOCs) to transport mostly non-lethal equipment and supplies to Afghanistan through the Northern Distribution Network (NDN). Since then, individual North Atlantic... MORE
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Ethnic Russians Leave Stavropol Creating Regional Security Vacuum
At the beginning of 2013, several trials of suspected militants concluded in Stavropol region. Some observers assert that Islamic extremism has found a suitable breeding ground in the eastern part of Stavropol region because of its depressed economy and influx of ethnic Dagestanis from neighboring... MORE
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Ibragim Gajidadaev, Dagestan’s Most Wanted Militant, Involved in Makhachkala Shootout
Media reports about a government special operation in the suburban town of Semender near Makhachkala, Dagestan, would not have captured anybody’s attention (www.moidagestan.ru/news/antiterror/26153) had there not been several strong reasons to pay attention to it. This special operation indicated how deep and complex the links... MORE
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Is Russia Losing Ground in India’s Arms Market?
India remains Russia’s biggest customer for arms sales and technology transfers. It still receives about 70 percent of its defense imports from Russia and accounts for between 30–40 percent of Russia’s defense exports. Nevertheless, not all is well in this relationship. Multiple examples of shoddy... MORE
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Disputed Border Area Between Chechnya and Ingushetia Remains Regional Hot Spot
Another successful special operation by government forces in the border area between Chechnya and Ingushetia has again attracted attention to this region, which is sometimes referred to as a Bermuda triangle on a local scale. From examining the major armed incidents in Ingushetia over the... MORE