Central Asia

Daily Memo: Taiwan’s Defense Spending, Azerbaijan’s War Preparations

Taiwanese defense. The Taiwanese government’s proposed defense budget for next year will reach $31 billion, or 3.32 percent of gross domestic product, according to Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai. This would be a 23 percent increase in defense spending over 2025. Some 17 percent of the funds will be earmarked for military investments, including the purchase […]

Daily Memo: Israel Prepares New Gaza Operation, Europe Discusses Ukraine’s Defense

Making arrangements. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz approved on Tuesday plans for a Gaza City offensive. In preparation for the operation, the military called...

Daily Memo: What Ukraine Will Accept, US-India Talks Canceled

Russia-Ukraine negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prepared to freeze the current front line in the war with Russia but rejects demands that he...

Risk and Reward in the AI Arms Race

Artificial intelligence is emerging as the strategic high ground in warfare, promising faster targeting, smarter weapons and operations beyond human capacity. Several imperatives are...

Daily Memo: Turkey-Syria Deal, US-Russia Trade

Turkish assistance. Turkey reportedly agreed to facilitate the procurement of weapons and logistical material for Syria under a memorandum of understanding signed Wednesday. The...

The US in the South Caucasus and Implications for Eurasia

The peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is among the most geopolitically consequential developments of our time. The South Caucasus region connects the West...

Daily Memo: German Polls, Ukrainian Skepticism

German public opinion. Support for Germany’s governing coalition has dropped to a record low of 37 percent, according to a new poll. Chancellor Friedrich...

Daily Memo: US-China Trade, Russian Metals

Another pause. The United States and China announced on Monday that they will extend exemptions on additional tariffs for another 90 days while they...

Daily Memo: Developments in Israel and Lebanon

Closer to escalation. Israel’s security cabinet has approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for defeating Hamas and ending the war. The proposal involves disarming...

Daily Memo: US Reaches Last-Minute Trade Deals

Pakistan. Washington announced a flurry of trade deals with countries facing severe spikes in tariffs if they did not reach a compromise by the...

Daily Memo: Germany’s Defense Investment, Russia’s Plan for Benin

German defense. The German government is reportedly preparing to submit at least 60 military procurement orders for parliamentary approval this year. They include 20...

Daily Memo: Kazakh Energy for Europe, Roscosmos-NASA Talks

Kazakh exemption. The European Union has decided to allow the delivery of Kazakh coal through Russian ports despite sanctions. The EU’s 16th package of...

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