The Straits of Malacca and the Strait of Hormuz, despite their troubled waters, stand as vital maritime corridors linking the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea and the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. These strategic routes are essential for global energy markets, facilitating the transport of oil and…
The solidarity displayed by China, Russia, and North Korea in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine poses significant risks to the strategic interests of the United States and its allies. China and North Korea supported Russia’s actions by providing crucial economic and military assistance, with Beijing increasing bilateral trade to offset international sanctions against Russia…
Introduction Against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the South China Sea, the US and the Philippines have initiated massive joint military exercises, Balikatan, involving thousands of military personnel over a three-week period. This exercise showcases the Philippines’ advanced military systems, including missile frigates, fighter jets, support aircraft, and Black Hawk helicopters. Notably, the naval…
Background The BrahMos missile system, a collaborative endeavor between India and Russia, stands as a testament to the ingenuity and strategic foresight of both nations. Conceived in the late 1990s, the project aimed to develop a supersonic cruise missile capable of delivering precision strikes at incredible speeds. Named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, it…
In a bold and unprecedented move, Iran has unleashed a massive barrage of over 200 drones and missiles targeting Israel, pushing regional tensions to perilous heights. This retaliatory strike, dubbed “Operation True Promise” by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), is in direct response to a deadly airstrike on its Damascus consular annexe earlier this…
A Brief Geopolitical tensions have long plagued the Middle East, with recent developments sparking concerns of a full-scale war. Various factors, including political unrest, economic challenges, and religious and ethnic conflicts, have contributed to increased regional tensions. The Middle East is indeed edging closer to a wider regional conflict, as noted by Julian Borger, the…
The South China Sea, a vital crossroads for global trade with an annual value approaching trillions, emerges as a geopolitical flashpoint where economic interests intersect with territorial disputes. This strategic waterway facilitates one-third of the world’s trade and the transit of millions of barrels of oil daily. Contested by nations including China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the…
In 2012, China and the Philippines engaged in a standoff that would alter the course of the status quo in the South China Sea. The Scarborough Shoal incident, marked by China’s assertive actions against Philippine fishing boats and subsequent effective capture of the shoal, set the stage for a significant shift in regional dynamics. This…
Militarization of the South China Sea The South China Sea has drawn the attention of global powers for decades. Given that this region lies at the heart of crucial global trade routes, this attention is unsurprising. Seventy to eighty percent of global trade activities take place via waterways. Of this, sixty percent of maritime shipments…
In October, Manila will host a yearly joint military exercise with the US. The exercises are set to take place at the beginning of October at Luzon. Lt. Ielto, the spokesperson for the Philippine military, informed the press. The exercises will encompass the core principles of anti-submarine, anti-surface, anti-air, and electronic warfare. Naval fleets from…
