Diplomatic Analysis

Diplomatic Analysis: Streamlining defence procurement requires embedding legal and operational expertise within industry, not simply cutting regulation. Overview The Russo-Ukrainian War has starkly highlighted the accelerating pace of technological change on the battlefield—far outpacing the ability of military procurement and review processes to keep pace. This disparity creates a critical vulnerability, as cutting-edge systems are […]

The withdrawal marks a strategic shift, potentially bolstering Iranian influence and raising the spectre of ISIS resurgence. Overview On 30 September 2026, Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), the US-led military intervention against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), formally concluded with the withdrawal of remaining US troops from northern Iraq. Launched in October 2014, […]

Diplomatic Analysis: The US attempt to leverage private cyber capabilities is hampered by legal ambiguity and inadequate incentives. The recent White House memorandum seeking to expand capabilities to combat transnational cyber-enabled crime, coupled with Congressional proposals for “cyber letters of marque,” represents a novel – and potentially problematic – approach to addressing the escalating threat […]

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 […]