In response to intensified Russian and Chinese hybrid warfare, Western governments have started to expand the remit of their intelligence agencies. France and the UK have tightened their sabotage legislation, and Finland aims to give more powers to its intelligence service. In Germany, the Merz government is drafting a new BND Act to let the
Western Intelligence Goes on the Offensive Read More »
In a surprise Christmas-timed boost to Kyiv, Japan has confirmed that it will send a substantial new package of financial support to Ukraine, combining fresh funding with accelerated repayment of G7 loans. The cumulative commitment is expected to total around $9 billion (€8.4 billion). Japan’s stance on Ukraine will not change, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae
Japan’s Christmas Gift to Ukraine: Tokyo Pledges €9 billion Support Read More »
The High North is now central to deterrence and surveillance. Russia has shifted focus northwards since Finland and Sweden joined NATO, extending NATO’s border with Russia by 1,340 km. Climate change is opening Arctic sea routes, prompting rivals to deploy advanced long-range weapons and drawing growing interest from China. New airborne early-warning technology offers triple
Airborne Early Warning in the Arctic Read More »
Germany’s defence procurement is surging to historic levels. In mid-December 2025, the Bundestag’s budget committee cleared roughly €50 billion in new equipment contracts, pushing the 2025 defence budget to a record around €83 billion. Among the more than 100 projects approved, Patria secured a €2 billion contract with the German Bundeswehr for 6×6 CAVS armoured
Germany’s Rearmament Surge: Patria’s Historic €2bn 6×6 Vehicle Deal Read More »
The presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have agreed in principle that if one Baltic state removes its railway connections to Russia and Belarus, the others will follow suit in unison. Meeting in Riga on December 4, 2025, the three leaders discussed dismantling the old 1,520 mm “Russian gauge” tracks that cross their eastern borders. Unprecedented
Breaking with the Russian Gauge – Baltic States Set to Remove Old Rails to the East Read More »
This is a rare American movie that portrays the Soviets as the protagonists in Afghanistan without reducing them to cartoon villainy. It follows a Soviet T-55 crew in 1981 who smash a Pashtun village, take a wrong turn, and end up trapped in a dead-end valley while a band of Mujahideen and village survivors hunt
Frontline Flicks: The Beast (1988) Read More »
The demand for personal ballistic protection has never been higher. The world is more dangerous and unpredictable than at any point in recent decades. At Milipol 2025 (18–21 November), manufacturers of ballistic protection gear gathered under one roof to showcase how they equip those tasked with protecting others. Among them was Finnish firm SIOEN Ballistics
Milipol 2025: SIOEN Ballistics – State of the Art Body Armour Read More »
The vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, over 5,000 nautical miles, has long been a protective buffer for the U.S. West Coast against any Asian naval threats. In a conflict with China, American strategists traditionally assumed that Chinese warships or submarines would struggle to project power across such distances. China’s development of extra-extra-large unmanned underwater
China’s New Underwater Drones Could Threaten The West Coast U.S Read More »
Ulbrichts Protection, the Austrian pioneer in titanium and titanium-hybrid ballistic helmets, has introduced a new generation of screwless helmets at Milipol Paris 2025. The company’s latest lineup highlights rifle-capable designs for both everyday police patrol and specialised tactical teams, signalling a shift towards routine protection against rifle threats as law enforcement agencies confront a rise
For more than a century, popes have attempted to influence the hard calculus of war: mobilisations, ceasefires, intelligence backchannels, nuclear thresholds and geopolitical realignments. Despite possessing no army, the Holy See has often functioned as a strategic mediator — a unique actor able to interact with military powers during crises when other channels were frozen.
Vatican’s Role in War and Peace Read More »
