Author: Gregory Halloran

Diplomatic Analysis: A structured public-private partnership is essential to navigate the escalating national security challenges posed by advanced AI. Overview The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly frontier models, presents increasingly complex national security challenges. Recent events – such as the temporary takedown of Anthropic’s ‘Mythos’ AI model due to cyber security concerns – […]

Diplomatic Analysis: Moscow’s force growth in Ukraine demonstrates logistical prowess, but diminishing battlefield returns, with implications for NATO. Overview The Russo-Ukrainian War has witnessed a remarkable expansion of the Russian military. From a relatively small, contract-based force in 2022, Russia has grown its deployed personnel to over 700,000, and authorized a further increase to 1.5 […]

Diplomatic Analysis: Past failures in the Middle East suggest that Washington and Jerusalem’s recent attempt to overthrow the Iranian regime was destined to fall short, highlighting the limits of military force in achieving political transformation. Overview In February 2026, the United States and Israel launched ‘Operation Epic Fury’ against Iran, with a stated goal—particularly for […]

Diplomatic Analysis: Hizballah deliberately escalated conflict in Lebanon to leverage Iranian negotiations with the US, creating a precarious and interconnected diplomatic situation. Overview This analysis examines how Hizballah’s calculated escalation strategy in Lebanon, employing a sustained campaign of drone and missile attacks, fundamentally altered the dynamics of recent US-Iran negotiations. Initially treated as a separate […]

Diplomatic Analysis: Hizballah’s calibrated escalation in Lebanon transformed the country into a crucial lever in wider U.S.-Iran negotiations, creating a precarious situation for all parties. Overview This analysis examines how Hizballah’s deliberate escalation strategy in Lebanon, between April and June 2026, fundamentally altered the dynamics of U.S.-Iran negotiations. Initially treated as a separate issue, the […]

A shortfall in operations and maintenance budgets threatens the implementation of recent AI directives. The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is at a critical juncture in its efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations. Recent executive orders and presidential memorandums have outlined an ambitious strategy for AI adoption, geared towards bolstering national […]

-start-thought Heres a thinking process that leads to the final analysis: 1. Understand the Goal: * Role: Diplomatic affairs analyst for Merlows (digital news portal focusedB focused on Israel-Iran relations, theSH, and Middle East diplomacy). * Task: Write an analytical piece based on the provided source material about the resurgence of Somali piracy. * Tone: […]

Diplomatic Analysis: The coalition that suppressed Somali piracy is gone, necessitating a regionally-led security architecture. Recent hijackings of merchant vessels off the Horn of Africa signal a resurgence of Somali piracy, a threat many considered largely contained since 2016. This return is not merely a resurgence of old tactics, but a consequence of shifting geopolitical […]

Diplomatic Analysis: A fragmented US military watercraft procurement strategy presents logistical vulnerabilities; consolidation around a common hull design is crucial. Overview The United States military faces a critical challenge in sustaining maritime operations in a future conflict. Increasingly contested sea lanes, potential denial of port access, and the need to support distributed operations demand a […]

Diplomatic Analysis: A consolidated, commercially-derived watercraft family offers the U.S. military a more sustainable and affordable path to intra-theater sustainment than disparate, bespoke designs. Overview This analysis examines the ongoing efforts by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps to modernise their intra-theater watercraft fleets. Despite shared operational needs – sustaining forces across vast distances, […]