Tag: Intel

Last week, the United States reversed its long-standing opposition to sending Ukraine F-16 advanced aircraft to aid its fight against Russia. The Biden administration previously had expressed concerns that the jets would be too sophisticated for the Ukrainians and that providing the American-made aircraft could lead to escalation with Russia. Ukraine’s impressive, continued battlefield success… Continue reading Military Assistance to Ukraine Is a Rare Success

On May 17, the president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, dissolved the country’s legislature in the midst of impeachment proceedings against him. Did Ecuador just have a self-coup? Opposition leaders say yes. But the answer is no, at least for now. This matters greatly for the country’s democratic trajectory and for the international community’s response. The… Continue reading Is Ecuador in the Middle of a Self-Coup?

Much attention in recent months has focused on Russia’s faltering military offensive and staggering casualties in Ukraine. But there are other problems, largely unnoticed outside Russia, lurking for the country’s armed forces and society more broadly. Russia’s wartime military-personnel policies, instituted last September, temporarily prohibit active-duty and mobilized soldiers from leaving service. Russia faces a… Continue reading The Russian Military’s Looming Personnel Crises of Retention and Veteran Mental Heath

April 20, 2022, was a dark day for the United States in Oceania. On that day, China signed its first-ever security agreement in the South Pacific, with the Solomon Islands authorizing Chinese navy ships to make routine port visits. The pact also allows Chinese security services to train the island nation’s law enforcement to, in… Continue reading America Is Winning Against China in Oceania

The U.S. surgeon general recently issued an advisory on America’s loneliness epidemic (PDF) and the healing effects of social connection. Former Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Bob McDonald also issued a statement on veterans’ social isolation. These are important reminders of veterans’ need for connection and community. Fortunately, there are many nonprofit organizations seeking… Continue reading Amid an Epidemic of Loneliness, Nonprofits Are Helping Keep Veterans Connected

In his recent meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns reportedly emphasized the importance of stabilizing the bilateral relationship. After an alarming downturn in U.S.-China relations, an easing of tensions could indeed provide a welcome breather for two countries confronting intractable domestic problems. Washington continues to grapple with slowing growth, bitter… Continue reading U.S.-China Rivalry in an Era of Weakening States

Both terrorism and coups are on the rise in the Sahel. This is a troubling trend that the United States should be working to reverse. To do this, Washington needs to ramp up support aimed at improving security governance, professionalizing militaries, and strongly sanctioning all forms of military takeovers in the region. This will require… Continue reading The Case for a Governance-First U.S. Security Policy in the Sahel

China’s defense industry has exported malfunctioning and defective military equipment in recent years—leaving countries short of what’s needed for their security while also draining military budgets. Nigeria’s military reported several technical problems with the Chinese-made F-7 aircraft delivered starting in 2009. A handful were lost in crashes or accidents. By 2020, of the nine remaining,… Continue reading Countries Buy Defective Chinese Military Equipment. Why?

This week, we discuss evidence suggesting that veterans don’t support extremism any more than the public does; why it’s time to manage traffic in outer space; twin personnel crises on the horizon for Russia; workplace conditions that support teacher well-being; America’s strategic advantage over China in Oceania; and how climate change might affect force readiness.… Continue reading Extremist Beliefs Among Veterans, Space Traffic, Teacher Well-Being: RAND Weekly Recap