While the tonal change in the content of the new NDS compared to its predecessors is undeniable, the substance is far from radical. Although such strategies and similar documents are not prescriptive to administration decisions, they do guide the planning that shapes day-to-day White House policy options and act to signals to allies and parters. In this context, it should be regarded as less of a historical break than some headlines suggest.

Understand Greenland’s security architecture requires first realizing its value – its strategic geography. Forming both the northern end of the Greenland – Iceland – UK (GIUK) Gap, and serving as the northern-most point of the American continent, Greenland has been significant for early-warning and radar-tracking, able to detect threats transiting over the Arctic before reaching Canada and the United States

Space has already been militarized and is actively being weaponized. Multilateral efforts at establishing space-based rules of behavior are faltering. And though so far only non-destructive capabilities have been deployed in space, physical acts are imminent, should geopolitics on Earth continue to degrade.

That the PRC’s propaganda is now pivoting towards deterring China’s partners is no surprise, as the PLA has long recognized the ability to deter or defeat U.S. intervention attempts as central to any military effort to take Taiwan.

While the Trump administration’s approach to Taiwan is continuing to coalesce, current signs indicate no dramatic departure from long-standing positions.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan’s newly elected leader Sanae Takaichi was confirmed as Japan’s new Prime Minister on 21st October. Takaichi is also Japan’s first female prime minister in its history.

Despite the CWC offering the same degree of prohibition and protection as the TNPT, BWC and PNTBT, the degree of selective enforcement has allowed states to operate seemingly beyond regulations.

The House of Commons Defence Committee has published its report, The UK Contribution to European Security. The report, to which the HSC gave written and oral evidence, concludes that while the UK remains a leading European security actor, it needs to take measures to “urgently strengthen its conventional and nuclear capabilities, improve interoperability with Allies, strengthen its defence industrial base and ensure it can defend the UK homeland and overseas territories.”

Russia’s influence in the Sahel region and across Africa more generally is a constantly growing threat to Western security.

If negotiations between Tokyo and Washington do not terminate positively,, there is the risk that their economic interdependence between Japan and China will increase to the point that former becomes dangerously vulnerable to geopolitical shocks, as was the case with Germany and Russia in the leadup to the latter’s invasion of Ukraine.