A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war and the conflict in Iran have highlighted a factor in modern warfare that has become commonplace: drones are here to stay. From Ukraine’s rapid integration of …
From Ukraine to Jalisco How Mexican Cartels Weaponized the Skies Read More
German defense industrial giant Rheinmetall has submitted a non-binding bid to acquire German Naval Yards Kiel (GNYK), a key shipyard on the Baltic Sea coast. The bid, announced by company …
Rheinmetall’s GNYK Bid Raises Stakes in German Naval Shipbuilding Race Read More
Image – Forecast International (AI-generated) South Korea’s defense planning is increasingly shaped by a constraint that is not military but demographic. As the country’s population ages and its pool of …
Manufacturing Capacity, Not Manpower: South Korea’s Quiet Defense Pivot Read More
Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of the Naval Staff of Pakistan, and Rear Admiral Shahin Mammadov, Commander of the Azerbaijan Naval Forces, meet at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad to discuss maritime …
Azerbaijan and Pakistan Build Naval Capacity for Trade Read More
On March 3rd, the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced the participation of U.S military assets and personnel in a joint operation launched against organized criminal entities in Ecuador alongside …
SOUTHCOM Supports Operations in Ecuador Read More
Iranian security strategy largely rests on the country’s short- and medium-range missile arsenal, developed as a national means to deter Tehran’s rivals and, in the event of conflict, impose unacceptable costs. Thus Iran fired multiple salvoes at Israel in 2024, as part of its ‘True Promise’ I and II operations, and launched more this past June during the ‘Twelve-Day War’. Iran also hit the Gulf during these missions, and with renewed hostilities breaking out, appears to be more heavily targeting its littoral neighbors.
Iranian Missile, Drone Strikes Target Gulf Countries Read More
Following the “12-Day War” with Israel in June 2025, the Iranian government accelerated negotiations with Russia and China to procure advanced missile systems. According to recent reports from the Financial Times and Reuters, these talks persisted even after the international arms embargo was reinstated in September.
Iran Turned to Russia, China for Missiles After 12-Day War Read More
Chinese Project 093B (Shang III) Submarines – Source: Chinese Government Media Last week, the U.K.’s International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) think tank issued a landmark report concluding that between …
Production and Power: China Outpaces U.S. in Nuclear Submarine Construction Read More
The Canadian government has released its first-ever Defense Industrial Strategy, a comprehensive initiative aimed at expanding the domestic industrial base, increasing the share of defense acquisition contracts awarded to Canadian …
Canada Pushes for Greater Self-Reliance in Defense Acquisition Read More
Following several weeks of speculation, the German government and shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) announced the conclusion of a preliminary agreement on Tuesday, Feb. 3, to build three MEKO A-200 …
ThyssenKrupp Receives Frigate Order Amid Germany’s F-126 Woes Read More