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.

HSC Deputy Director Dr Rowan Allport is giving evidence to the UK House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee’s inquiry ‘The UK contribution to European Security’ on Tuesday 29 April 2025.

There is no doubt that Russian state security services are in a strong position — rebuilding quickly after a tricky few years of alleged intelligence failures at the start of the Ukraine War.

The label of an “Arms Race” is an exaggerated view on current events in the western Balkans. Croatia and Serbia both have legitimate cases to modernize and strengthen their armed forces in light of war in Europe and the desire for strengthened EU and NATO integration. It is the decision of politics to turn to historical animosity to justify the ongoing developments of both armed forces for domestic purposes.