A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
On August 31st, the Japanese government submitted its FY2027 defense budget request. Formulated amidst both mounting global security challenges and uncertainty surrounding the resilience of the alliance structures that …
Japan Confronts the “New Ways of War” in FY2027 Budget Read More
China is becoming a more prominent supplier of military equipment to Central Asia, with recent aircraft sales to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan adding to a growing portfolio of defense exports to …
China’s Defense Ties to Central Asia Grow With Aircraft Sales Read More
Introduction The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) – the U.S. and Canada’s joint defense partnership for missile defense and aerospace control – is currently winding its way along two …
NORAD’s Two Paths Amid Modernization Read More
On August 4th, the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced the formation and activation of the Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM), a dedicated new organizational entity intended to facilitate …
Joint Task Force-Western Hemisphere Augurs Expanded SOUTHCOM Operations Read More
Taking place in the broader context of the country’s evolving reorientation of its strategic posture amidst a time of escalating interstate tensions and global instability, on May 27th the Japanese …
Japan’s Intelligence Community Enters a New Era Read More
Canada formally announced its participation in the Global Comat Air Program (GCAP) as the first observer nation, confirming rumors that began swirling last week. GCAP is a sixth-generation fighter development …
Canada’s GCAP Announcement Is About Relationships, Not the F-35 Read More
The FIM-92 Stinger has re-emerged in defense headlines, driven by heightened demand for short-range air defense and global supply backlogs. As the legacy platform faces these capacity constraints, the U.S. …
Sustaining the Stinger: How Foreign Demand Shapes the FIM-92’s Future Read More
Outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer published his government’s much-awaited Defence Investment Plan (DIP) on June 30, making good on a promise to release the document prior to this month’s …
U.K. Defence Investment Plan: Future Procurement Priorities Read More
After weeks of anticipation amidst razor-thin margins and a prolonged and contentious counting process, on July 4th Peru’s electoral authority formally announced that Keiko Fujimori had emerged victorious in the …
Keiko Wins: Will She Be Able to Govern? Read More
Mexican Air Force (FAM) commander General Román Carmona announced at the 2026 Tulum Air Show that the service will retire its aging Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II fleet after more than …
Mexico’s Strategic Push to Modernize its Air Force Read More