A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
The Dutch Ministry of Defense issued a new white paper on military development last week, urging further funding for new procurement and personnel. The paper, which follows a similar missive …
Dutch Ministry of Defense Publishes New Defense White Paper Read More
Japan’s Ministry of Defense has submitted a budget request of ¥8.54 trillion ($59.76 billion) for fiscal year 2025 (FY25). The requested total marks a 7.5 percent increase over the current …
No Going Back: Japan Continues to Hike Defense Spending Read More
Kazakhstan has received a new batch of Su-30SM fighter jets from Russia, as seen in recent posts on the Kazakh Ministry of Defense’s Telegram page. Several posts from August 17-18 …
New Batch of Su-30s Delivered to Kazakhstan Read More
The recent military coups in West Africa have severely impacted U.S. and French counterterrorism and intelligence operations in the region. Niger, a key ally in the fight against Islamist extremism, …
AFRICOM Scrambles To Sustain Intel Operations In West Africa Read More
In June, the Nigerian Army achieved a significant milestone by acquiring two UH-1H “Huey” helicopters, formally establishing its new Aviation Wing. This move is part of a broader strategy to …
Nigeria Expands Army Aviation Amid Regional Security Read More
A recent failed coup attempt in Bolivia has sparked outrage, concern and a conflict of narratives, as some observers doubt the origin of the uprising. Swirling allegations in a country …
Bolivia’s Controversial Coup Attempt Underscores Internal Tensions Read More
French-made howitzers will soon be in service with the Armenian Army, adding to a growing list of French military deals with the Caucasus country. On June 18, French Minister of …
Armenia Orders French Howitzers As It Prepares CSTO Exit Read More
On June 1, 2024, the Netherlands made history, becoming the first country to officially assign its F-35A stealth fighters to the nuclear strike role, a significant milestone for NATO’s military …
Netherlands Enhances Nuclear Arsenal with F-35A: A New Era in NATO-Russia Tensions Read More
As tensions in the Taiwan Strait have escalated in recent years, Taiwan’s 2024 election loomed as a potential landmark event in cross-strait relations. Taiwanese voters took to the polls on …
Taiwanese Presidential Inauguration Sparks Milestone Chinese Military Exercise Read More
In January, the archipelago nation of Nauru severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of formal relations with China, reducing the number of countries recognizing Taipei’s sovereignty to eleven. Nauru’s …
Nauru’s Diplomatic Shift Signals Increasing Chinese Dominance in the Indo-Pacific Read More