A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
In aerospace defense circles, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has seized an outsized role in worldwide debate since the Trump administration took office, becoming a flashpoint topic for international …
Tariffs, Trust, and the F-35: Can Global Volatility Upend the JSF? Read More
Europe has been dealing with a case of whiplash since the start of the second Trump administration, as President Donald Trump aims to rewrite the nature of U.S.-Europe relations. Since …
Tariff Tussle Adds Headache to European Defense Spending Plans Read More
Since the reimposition of 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum by President Donald Trump in early 2025, the U.S. shipbuilding industry has found itself at a critical juncture. Originally …
Ripple Effects: Steel Tariffs and U.S. Naval Shipbuilding Read More
President Donald Trump imposed retaliatory tariffs on imports from U.S. trading partners, arguing that existing foreign tariffs negatively impact U.S. manufacturers and employment. The intricate nature of global trade, characterized …
Trump, Tariffs and Defense Read More
At a press event on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump hinted at a defense budget request “in the vicinity” of $1 trillion for Fiscal Year …
Trump Teases $1 Trillion Defense Budget—But What Does That Actually Mean? Read More
The global defense landscape is evolving, and NATO is at a pivotal moment. With discussions intensifying around raising the defense spending benchmark from 2% to 5% of GDP, this potential …
Beyond 2%: NATO’s Defense Budget Shift – Webcast Read More
“Now is the time to speak honestly so that every European understands what is at stake. A new international order will be formed in the second half of this decade …
Beyond Headlines: Europe’s Defense Dream vs. Reality Read More
The highly-anticipated selection of the prime builder for the U.S. Air Force’s future sixth-generation fighter took place this past Friday. In an Oval Office announcement, President Trump, joined by top …
Boeing Takes the Helm for U.S. Air Force Next-Gen Fighter Read More
The likely next chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, announced on Friday, March 14, that he had secured enough votes to enable a massive new expenditure plan aimed at infrastructure and …
Germany’s Landmark Spending Deal Gets Approved – Now Comes the Lift Read More
Since returning to the White House, the Trump administration has voiced its desire for an Iron Dome for America that would, in essence, reprise for the U.S. what the …
A Backgrounder on Trump’s Golden Dome for America Read More