In the most recent example of declining relations between Russia and Finland (and other neighboring states), Russia staged an island invasion drill on an island within 24 miles from a Finnish city. These public drills have pushed Finland to increase defense spending and preparedness, with a 2017 defense reporting writing

In the midst of negative language from North Korea following the US Secretary of State’s visit to the country, South Korean military intelligence has shared that North Korea may be developing new nuclear submarines able to launch nuclear missiles. Such developments would further complicate U.S. efforts to denuclearize the peninsula

The U.S. has restated its commitment to maintaining open waterways in the Persian Gulf, following an implicit Iranian threat to block the route if the U.S. continues in its efforts to prevent its allies from importing Iranian oil. The waterway is an important channel of free navigation, and is used

Reflecting the arctic’s increased position as a strategic priority for China, the country recently opened bids for the production of its first nuclear-powered icebreaker. Russia currently dominates globally in terms of civilian-operated nuclear-powered icebreakers, maintaining a fleet of four with three more on the way. The Russian military fleet boasts

Australia has announced the purchase of a fleet of long-range, unmanned drones from the U.S. to support maritime monitoring of illegal fishing, human trafficking, and foreign navy movements. The drones will cover areas extending into the South China Sea, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and even into the Antarctic. 

On the coattails of another restructuring that placed China’s People Armed Police Force and its 1.5 million employees under the structure of the People’s Liberation Army, the China Coast Guard has been restructured within the Central Military Commission. Experts predict that the integration will follow be patterned similarly to the

The most recent espionage case involving China and the US has surfaced, this time in China where a senior executive with the Chinese state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corp (CSIC) is accused of “gross violation of laws and party discipline,” by Chinese oversight bodies. Although the oversight bodies have not released

New strategic shipping lanes and a number of natural resources have become accessible due to continued meltdown of the polar ice cap. And, while Russia and China have made the Arctic a strategic priority, the US did not mention it anywhere in its National Defense Strategy released in January. This

Highlighting the massive scale of the international drug trade, a single coast guard cutter intercepted 6 smuggling operations and seized 7 tons of cocaine over a period of 80 days in the Pacific Ocean. The drugs seized are valued at an estimated 206 million USD. While the seizures are presented

Software and hardware used by ships are vulnerable to tracking, and even hijacking ships, according to a study by cybersecurity firm Pen Test Partners. Vulnerabilities are caused by satellite communications systems with insufficient protections that allow hackers to gain admin access. From this point, hackers can manipulate navigation and even