A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
Azerbaijan announced an “anti-terrorist operation” in Nagorno-Karabakh on September 19, reigniting warfare with rival Armenia over the breakaway republic’s political future. The announcement coincided with shelling along the contact line, …
Azerbaijan Resumes Nagorno-Karabakh Military Operations Read More
Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un traveled northwards to Russia for a nearly week-long visit, meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top officials, as well as touring …
Russia’s DPRK Outreach Read More
The Swedish government has put forth a budget bill for fiscal year 2024 (FY24) that will drive defense spending up by 30 percent year-on-year and push the country towards the …
Eying NATO Membership, Swedish Government Proposes Defense Spending Hike Read More
The Polish draft budget for FY24 released by the Ministry of Finance indicates a sharp year-on-year increase for the country’s defense budget. The proposed earmark reflects a rise from the …
Poland Proposes Double-Digit 2024 Budgetary Increase for Defense Read More
Overnight on June 23 of this year, Wagner Group commander Yevgeny Prigozhin played his hand, launching a mutiny against the Russian Ministry of Defense after months of bickering with its …
Putin Owns the Cards Read More
BOAC Mosquito in 1943. Image – BAE SystemsThose with a keen interest in World War Two might have read about Swedish ball-bearing production during the conflict. Surprisingly, Swedish ball bearings …
Sweden and Those Ball Bearings Read More
In June, after months of speculation, Kyiv launched its much-awaited counter-offensive against the Russian military, aiming to break the impasse that settled over the conflict through the winter and spring …
Russian Wartime Defense Spending Balloons Read More
Imagery of Near-Complete Chinese Military Naval Station in Cambodia. Image – Black Sky On July 24, BlackSky Technology, Herndon, Virginia, published a series of satellite images showing the rapid development …
China Extends Its Grasp Read More
Let’s take a roundabout journey. Trust me, I do have a point. Sadly, in this world nothing lasts forever: Saturday morning cartoons, American Bandstand, Tab soda (OK, in the latter …
Commentary: Nothing Lasts Forever . . . Read More
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has requested a review of a 2017 defense treaty with Australia, months after finalizing a security pact with China that permits Chinese troops to deploy to …
Tug Of War In The Pacific Read More