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Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has increasingly militarized the Black Sea region, presenting a threat to both NATO and its littoral partners, especially Ukraine and Moldova. Indeed, the region has become a testing ground for Russian hybrid warfare operations. These operations, which engage adversaries below the threshold of war, often seek to undermine civil society with tactics such as assaults on the integrity of elections, attacks on infrastruct

Photo: Sergey Okunev / NV Ukraine is currently at the epicenter of radical changes taking place in the way modern wars are fought. However, much of the world is still busy preparing for the wars of yesterday. European armies are only combat-ready on paper, while the invincibility of the United States military is based largely on past victories. The current state of affairs is far from unprecedented. In early 1940, Polish officers tried to warn their French counterparts about

Russia’s Geran attack drones have morphed from crude versions of Iranian Shahed UAVs into an affordable and flexible strike system, with deadly results. Russia’s Geran 2 attack drone / Source Sergej Flesh Facebook page Moscow’s forces have launched nearly 50,000 Geran/Shahed drones into Ukraine since the full-scale invasion of 2022 and shifted to a near-continuous rhythm of strikes that have overwhelmed defenses, disabled infrastructure, and killed families in their homes.  

The new US National Security Strategy is surprising only for those determined to ignore reality. By Edward Lucas In an ideal, imagined world, the US is a wise, friendly, and eternal mentor to its European allies. It uncomplainingly shoulders the burden of military and diplomatic leadership. It does not push its own interests too hard, whatever American voters may want.  Against the background of such wholly unrealistic assumptions, the new  US National Security Strategy  inde

Is the Baltic now a NATO lake? Changing strategic geography, and the accession of Sweden and Finland to alliance membership might make it seem so, but the reality is more fraught. NATO exercise in the Baltic Sea / Source U.S. Navy Eight of the Baltic Sea states are now in NATO, and just one littoral country, Russia, is not. That might seem a mismatch of force — the so-called NATO lake — but appearances can be deceptive, and no one should underestimate the ability of Moscow’

Kremlin success would benefit the Beijing regime in a whole number of ways, including the theft of Ukrainian military technology. What might Europe look like if the fighting finally ends in Ukraine? Would we return to a pre-2022 continent of mutual suspicion but broad economic ties to Russia? Or something very different and even more concerning?  That, of course, depends on the exact terms agreed by the warring parties and their various backers. But any deal favorable to Vlad

Art can deliver a powerful geopolitical message — so be careful. By Edward Lucas Source: State Border Guard Republic of Latvia One of the pleasures of my annual visit to Venice is seeing how the countries that I know best present themselves at the Biennale, the international summer-to-autumn cultural festival that features alternately art and, this year, architecture. The current crop includes an  Estonian  exhibit on home insulation,  Lithuania  on trees,  Ukraine  on roofs,

Communications systems are being targeted by NATO’s enemies. New technology is needed to ensure decision-makers are not blinded by attacks. A critical fiber optic cable next to a Swedish highway of significant strategic military importance was found cut in several places in October. Such attacks are becoming commonplace — police have investigated around 30 acts of sabotage attacks, mostly along the same road, according to a June report.  The implications are profoundly worry

Political meddling has long hampered German intelligence and security. Not any more. By Edward Lucas Penetrated by the opposition, paralysed by legal obstacles and subject to political interference, Germany’s intelligence services were for decades seen as at best useless, and at worst outright harmful. I remember a British spook in cold-war Berlin in the 1980s joking: “If you want Gorbachev to know something quickly, tell the Germans in strict secrecy: it will be on his desk

Russian drone incursions mark an acceleration in the Kremlin's hybrid war on the West. NATO members should study Ukraine's frontline labs to prepare for what comes next. Source: 427th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems "RAROG" The Russia-Ukraine conflict has radically changed the understanding of modern warfare. Aviation no longer has absolute control of the air, and advanced tanks and armored vehicles have had their vulnerability exposed by relatively inexpensive unmanned

With a bit of imagination and courage, NATO can impose immediate costs for Russia’s hybrid war operations. Source: NATO Airborne Early...

Russia’s propaganda and threats are spooking potential investors in the Baltic States. NATO members should offer a financial backstop to...

A quickfire series of agreements are blazing a trail for future transatlantic defense cooperation. The XQ-58A Valkyrie first flew on 5...

Russia is now blending cyber interference, underwater sabotage, and manipulation of maritime law to gain tactical advantage without overt...

The continent is at risk. The demand to do nothing is not a rational response. Source: Official Facebook page of NATO - the North...

Moscow pays lip service to peace, yet its disinformation peddlers talk constantly of war. This is no accident. Portraying European...

The alliance’s credibility rests on a strong deterrent on its home continent, not with ventures on the other side of the world. US and...

A defense deal signed by Turkish and Romanian arms companies shows a route to enhanced industrial cooperation across Europe. Source:...

Europe’s not ready. And Putin knows it. By Edward Lucas. Source: NATO Force Integration Unit Latvia With every day that passes, Europe...

Well into the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow’s real ambitions are well-known: to control, conquer and...