Feed aggregator
How Serious are North Korea’s Pre-emptive Attack Threats?
- Annual Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises commenced today on March 7. Their scale is larger than previous exercises and will run until April 30.
- Over the weekend, North Korea threatened to launch a “preemptive nuclear strike of justice” in response to the military exercises.
Categories: Defense Policy
Afghanistan: The Uncertain Impact of a Year of Transition
Previous Burke Chair reports have addressed the fact that it has now been a year since U.S. and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) combat forces formally left Afghanistan.
Categories: Defense Policy
Goldwater-Nichols 2.0
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has focused Washington’s attention on management headquarters and command relationships through a series of hearings that the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) has held in recent months. The senator has vowed to make major changes, so the national security community is paying close attention.
Categories: Defense Policy
Aung San Suu Kyi Is Key to Further Unlocking of U.S. Sanctions against Myanmar
As Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) prepares to take power in Myanmar April 1, one of the questions U.S. policymakers will eventually need to address is what to do about the remaining U.S. economic sanctions against the country. Although many in the U.S.
Categories: Defense Policy
Additional Sanctions on North Korea
On March 2, 2016, the United Nations Security Council voted 15-0 to adopt Resolution 2270, which imposes new sanctions against North Korea for its nuclear and ballistic missile activities.
Categories: Defense Policy
UN Security Council adopts Resolution with Tougher Sanctions on North Korea
- The UN Security Council adopted UNSCR 2270 this morning by a unanimous vote [15-0].
Categories: Defense Policy
PacNet #23 - Australia’s 2016 Defense White Paper: forward funded defense
If one word can sum up the 2016 Australian Defense White Paper (DWP 2016), it is “forward.” The document is more “forward” than its predecessors in terms of projected funding commitments and the dizzying time-scales and costs involved in delivering complex platforms like submarines and frigates.
Categories: Defense Policy
Saudi Arabia and the United States: Common Interests and Continuing Sources of Tension
Table of Contents
Strong Ties, But with Significant Tensions
Building a Stronger Relationship
Improving Mutual Public and Policy Level Understanding of the U.S.-Saudi Strategic Partnership
Categories: Defense Policy
Korea Chair Monitor | Vol 4 Issue 3
The Korea Chair team takes a biweekly look back at events of interest in Washington, Seoul, and the region from February 11 - February 24, 2016.
U.S.-ROK RELATIONS
President Obama Signs H.R. 757
Categories: Defense Policy
United Kingdom Debates Scrapping Nuclear Program: Why the United States Cares
The United Kingdom has maintained a continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent since April 1969, with one ballistic missile submarine on patrol at all times. The David Cameron government reinforced its commitment to maintaining its nuclear posture in the November 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).
Categories: Defense Policy
PacNet #22 - ADMM-dialogue partners informal meetings as a source of regional stability
Defense diplomacy efforts led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have advanced significantly since the inaugural ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in 2006. A development that has recently gained prominence is the ADMM’s engagement with individual dialogue partners.
Categories: Defense Policy
“Putin Is Corrupt” and Other Uncertainties Related to U.S. Policy toward Russia
During a BBC interview aired on January 25, a surprising and seemingly “out of the blue” comment from Adam Szubin, U.S. acting under secretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, had many people scratching their heads. Szubin in essence said President Vladimir Putin of Russia is corrupt.
Categories: Defense Policy
PacNet #11A - Australia’s submarine decision: a matter of grand strategy
Australia’s future submarine program is the largest and most complex defense procurement in the nation’s history. The decision as to which submarine to choose has become one of grand strategy with far-reaching economic, political, and strategic consequences.
Categories: Defense Policy
Issues & Insights Vol. 16 - No. 4 - Implementing Strategic Trade Controls in Asia Pacific
The Pacific Forum CSIS, National Chengchi University’s Institute for International Relations, and the Prospect Foundation, with support from the US Department of State’s Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program and the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held an Asia-Pacific dialogue on strategic trade controls (STC) in Taipei, Taiwan on November 5-6, 2015.
Categories: Defense Policy
“To Leave, or Not to Leave…That is the Question:” 121 Days Until the UK Referendum
Prior to the UK General Elections in May 2013, Prime Minister David Cameron pledged, if reelected, to hold a nation-wide referendum on the United Kingdom’s continued membership in a “reformed EU.” After days of high drama in Brussels, a “reform” deal between the 27 members of the European Union and the United Kingdom has been reached.
Categories: Defense Policy
Afghanistan: The Uncertain Impact of a Year of Transition
A previous Burke Chair report has addressed the fact that it has now been a year since U.S. and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) combat forces formally left Afghanistan.
Categories: Defense Policy
The Honorable Tom Malinowski: Special Address at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
A special address delivered by The Honorable Tom Malinowski at the “North Korea: The Human Rights and Security Nexus” conference held in the Center for Strategic and International Studies, as released by the U.S. Department of State.
Categories: Defense Policy
Seeing the Forest through the SAMs on Woody Island
The recent deployment of Chinese surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) to Woody Island is a notable tactical development, but a far more significant strategic signal.
Categories: Defense Policy
A Tumultuous 2016 in the South China Sea
This promises to be a landmark year for the claimant countries and other interested parties in the South China Sea disputes. Developments that have been under way for several years, especially China’s island-building campaign in the Spratlys and Manila’s arbitration case against Beijing, will come to fruition.
Categories: Defense Policy
PacNet #21 - Taiwanese presidential transitions need less turbulence
Tsai Ing-wen and the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) historic victory last month was largely driven by domestic political and economic concerns, but brings with it significant geopolitical implications.
Categories: Defense Policy
