By: Aaron Stein | Briefing
While the events of the past 18 months have altered Turkey’s security situation, Ankara has not announced any changes to its defense policy. Turkey remains committed to defeating its Kurdish insurgency, establishing regional stability and securing influence in neighboring countries. Therefore, Turkey’s recent announcement that it intends to develop medium-range ballistic missiles is a bit baffling.
By: Richard Weitz | Column
Russian leaders have made modernizing the Russian navy a priority of their military buildup and reform program. Current plans are to strengthen Russia’s sea power by building new ships and raising the navy’s international presence. But the Russian navy’s return to the world’s oceans faces impediments that will constrain Moscow’s global reach for at least the next decade or two.
By: Jonathan Berkshire Miller | Briefing
Earlier this month, Abu Dhabi officially green-lighted construction of its first nuclear power plant, under the stewardship of the Korea Electric Power Corporation. The historic construction highlights how the oil-flush region has been forced to recalibrate its energy strategy. For Seoul, it represents a successful first step toward establishing itself in the region as a trusted energy and commercial partner.
By: Richard Sabatini | Briefing
A common theme in international relations debates today centers on the need to move beyond stovepiped policy solutions to more effectively respond to the interconnected challenges of a world defined by the forces of globalization. Recent efforts by the Japanese government offer a good example of combining efforts that build defense and security capacity with projects to further development needs.
By: Balint Szlanko | Briefing
As the fighting intensifies between government forces and the Free Syrian Army for control of Aleppo, the rebels are consolidating their hold over territory elsewhere in northern Syria. The battle for Azaaz, an important city close to the Turkish border that fell to the FSA on July 19 after a month of heavy fighting, shows the rebels’ increased effectiveness in resisting government counterattacks.
