Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has unveiled Taipei’s plan to increase its supplementary defense budget to $40 billion in an op-ed published by The Washington Post. According to Lai, the sum will fund Taiwan’s purchase of new weapons from the United States and accelerate the development of T-Dome, an integrated defense system that would protect the...
Category: Geopolitical Issues
Greece to Purchase Israeli Air Defense System for Achilles Shield Program
Greece plans to acquire modern missile systems from Israel to build an anti-aircraft defense dome dubbed Achilles Shield, according to two sources who spoke to Reuters. Athens will spend about $3.48 billion for the air defense system as part of a wider effort to modernize the nation’s armed forces and keep pace with rival Turkey....
US, China Trade Deal Eases Tariffs, Suspends Export Controls on Rare Earth Minerals
President Donald Trump has struck a deal with China’s President Xi Jinping to ease trade tensions between the two countries, with Washington promising to lower tariffs on Chinese exports and Beijing committing to suspending export controls on rare earth minerals. The two leaders agreed on a trade and economic deal during a meeting in South...
US Navy, Brunei Military Strengthen Joint Capability to Defend Asia-Pacific Stability During 31st CARAT Exercises
The U.S. Navy and Royal Brunei Armed Forces strengthened interoperability to deter and defeat threats in the Indo-Pacific region during the 31st iteration of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training, or CARAT, held in Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei and the South China Sea. The event, which lasted two weeks, featured both shore-based engagements and sea-phase...
Treasury Sanctions Iran-Linked Networks Supplying Missile and Radar Components
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated 21 entities and 17 individuals tied to networks procuring sensitive goods for Iran‘s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, or MODAFL. The designations block their property and interests in property under U.S. jurisdiction. According to the Treasury, the networks helped Iran...
NATO Hosts Dialogue With South Korea on Defense Industrial Cooperation
NATO has launched its first defense industry dialogue with South Korea as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration with Indo-Pacific partners. The talks, held on Friday, brought together a delegation led by Tarja Jaakkola, NATO’s assistant secretary general for defense industry, innovation, and armaments, and representatives from South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration. Discussions centered on...
Air Chief Marshal Knighton Takes Over as UK Chief of Defence Staff
Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton has succeeded Adm. Tony Radakin as the United Kingdom’s chief of the defense staff, following Radakin’s completion of his four-year term. “It is an honor to begin my role as chief of the defense staff today. I will work tirelessly to combat the threats the U.K. faces whilst fulfilling the...
BIS Ends Export Loophole Allowing Semiconductor Tech Shipments to China Without License
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security has ended a Biden-era expansion of export privileges that allowed select foreign semiconductor manufacturers to ship U.S.-origin technology to China without a license. The bureau said Friday it closed the loophole under the Validated End-User program, which permitted a handful of companies to export semiconductor...
NSA, Allied Partners Detail China-Backed Cyberattacks on Critical Networks
The National Security Agency and several other U.S. and foreign organizations have released a joint cybersecurity advisory, or CSA, warning of China-backed advanced persistent threat actors targeting critical sectors, including government, telecommunications and military infrastructure. The advisory aims to inform organizations worldwide about campaigns to gain long-term access to critical networks. Its other authoring agencies...
US, Japan, South Korea Step Up Fight Against North Korean IT Fraud Network
The United States, Japan and South Korea, in partnership with cybersecurity firm Mandiant, co-hosted a forum in Tokyo on Tuesday to bolster defenses against deceptive remote IT worker schemes from North Korea that threaten businesses globally. Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit to gain insights into the most pressing threats facing the country and...










