Diplomatic Analysis

Macron’s Shift: A Limited Step Towards Strategic Independence, Not Full Autonomy Overview Recent developments in French nuclear doctrine, particularly President Macron’s articulation of ‘forward deterrence’, alongside the 2025 Northwood Declaration with the United Kingdom, have prompted renewed discussion about a potential European nuclear deterrent independent of the United States. This analysis assesses the feasibility of […]

Diplomatic Analysis: Strategic patience in fostering nascent technologies is crucial for long-term national security. This analysis examines the historical case of Thomas Blanchard’s copying lathe – an early 19th-century invention born from the exigencies of US military supply – and its implications for contemporary industrial policy, particularly in the context of strengthening manufacturing capacity relevant […]

The Iran Conflict Highlights a Novel Vulnerability: Water Infrastructure as a Strategic Target. The recent escalation of tensions involving Iran has revealed a concerning new dimension of modern warfare: the deliberate targeting of water infrastructure. Beyond conventional military objectives, attacks on desalination and power plants, particularly in Gulf states like Kuwait and Bahrain, demonstrate a […]

Diplomatic Analysis: Hyman Rickover’s model of concentrated responsibility offers lessons for contemporary proliferation concerns and international technological cooperation. Overview The story of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, the driving force behind the United States’ nuclear navy and a key figure in the development of civilian nuclear power, is more than a history of technological innovation. It […]

A decline in direct US government funding for R&D alters the landscape of technological advantage. Overview Recent analysis reveals a significant shift in the funding of US Research and Development (R&D). While the US government historically dominated R&D funding, particularly in the post-Sputnik era, industry now shoulders the majority of the financial burden. This reversal […]

Increased Allied Co-Production Signals a Redefinition of Security Partnerships. Overview Recent comments from Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment, Michael P. Duffey, highlight a significant recalibration of US defence procurement strategy. The focus is shifting from simply selling arms to fostering co-production with allies, alongside broader industrial base investments and sweeping acquisition reforms. […]

Diplomatic Analysis: A calibrated response focused on fraudulent extraction, not distillation, is crucial for maintaining US AI leadership. The recent release of China’s Kimi K3 AI model, coupled with accusations of intellectual property theft levied by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, has brought simmering tensions in the US-China AI competition to a boil. Washington is […]

Renewed Hostilities in 2026 Intensify Pressure on a Vital Energy Chokepoint. Overview The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is once again at the centre of escalating tensions. A renewed conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, initiated in February 2026, […]