A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
A snapshot of recent news from sources around the world on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Political Developments A high-level meeting in Paris, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, brought together …
This Week in the Russia-Ukraine War (April 18) Read More
In a pivotal step for European defense modernization, four major defense companies—KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, and Thales—have formally established the MGCS Project Company GmbH (MPC). The new entity, …
MGCS Project Company GmbH Officially Launched by KNDS, Rheinmetall, and Thales Read More
In aerospace defense circles, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has seized an outsized role in worldwide debate since the Trump administration took office, becoming a flashpoint topic for international …
Tariffs, Trust, and the F-35: Can Global Volatility Upend the JSF? Read More
Europe has been dealing with a case of whiplash since the start of the second Trump administration, as President Donald Trump aims to rewrite the nature of U.S.-Europe relations. Since …
Tariff Tussle Adds Headache to European Defense Spending Plans Read More
As of March 2025, the United States remains the world’s largest arms exporter, accounting for 43% of global arms exports. But even as demand for American-made defense equipment surges amid …
Trump Tariffs Hammer U.S. Artillery Market Despite Export Dominance Read More
Since the reimposition of 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum by President Donald Trump in early 2025, the U.S. shipbuilding industry has found itself at a critical juncture. Originally …
Ripple Effects: Steel Tariffs and U.S. Naval Shipbuilding Read More
President Donald Trump imposed retaliatory tariffs on imports from U.S. trading partners, arguing that existing foreign tariffs negatively impact U.S. manufacturers and employment. The intricate nature of global trade, characterized …
Trump, Tariffs and Defense Read More
A snapshot of recent news from sources around the world on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Political Developments Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that at least 155 Chinese nationals are …
This Week in the Russia-Ukraine War (April 11) Read More
At a press event on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump hinted at a defense budget request “in the vicinity” of $1 trillion for Fiscal Year …
Trump Teases $1 Trillion Defense Budget—But What Does That Actually Mean? Read More
After the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War, national governments suddenly realized that their weapons inventories were insufficient to meet the demands of a modern war. Of course, this situation has …
The Unspoken Cost of Rebuilding Western Arsenals Read More