A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
On September 3, China’s President Xi Jinping hosted a group of foreign leaders attending the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Victory Day parade in Beijing. The event featured the largest military …
Spectacle or Substance? Decoding Xi’s September 3 Military Extravaganza Read More
As many as 19 Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace in the early morning hours on September 10, prompting Poland to scramble F-16s to react to the breach. Working together …
Poland, NATO Allies Shoot Down Russian Drones Violating Airspace Read More
In April, the Trump administration announced that U.S. companies such as Nvidia and AMD would require licenses to export certain semiconductor chips to China. These chips are used in AI …
Nvidia, AMD Strike Deal as U.S. Balances Defense and Trade Read More
On June 25, leaders of 31 nations belonging to the NATO Alliance gathered in The Hague to reaffirm their commitment to each other, paper over differences, and try to ignore …
The Hague Summit Declaration and NATO’s New Spending Targets Read More
Israel’s recent air war with Iran ended over six weeks ago and military analysts are still dissecting its successes, failures, and tactical innovations. The Wall Street Journal featured a deep …
Israel-Iran Air War: Lessons from a Brief but Intense Conflict Read More
On August 5, the Australian government announced its decision to adopt Japan’s upgraded Mogami-class frigate design to fulfill the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) requirement for a new class of six …
Silent Currents: The Strategic Significance of Australia’s Frigate Choice Read More
Japanese media revealed on July 6 that Japan plans to transfer its Abukuma-class destroyer escorts to the Philippines, potentially marking the first such export in modern Japanese history. Media reports …
Japan Closes In On First Major Warship Export Read More
A fragile ceasefire appears to be holding between Iran and Israel following a period of escalating violence, culminating in a covert U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. In the days …
Tentative Ceasefire Takes Hold Following Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes Read More
Just over a week after Israel began Operation Rising Lion, a major air campaign against Iran, the U.S. carried out its own series of strikes on Iran on Saturday night, …
Operation Midnight Hammer: U.S. Strikes Iranian Nuclear Sites Read More
Global defense spending surged by 8.1% in 2024, reaching an unprecedented $2.3 trillion as governments worldwide respond to a rapidly evolving security landscape. From Eastern Europe to the Indo-Pacific, nations …
A New Era of Global Defense Spending: Key Trends and What’s Ahead Read More