Foreign Policy Research Institute

09/04/2026

The changing extent of Arctic sea ice will affect the vulnerability of Russian nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) in the future and alter the overall dynamics of naval warfare in the Arctic. Check out this analysis by Carl Parkin for more details.

Russia sees opportunity in the Arctic. For centuries, ever-present sea ice has made the region hostile to trade or military exploitation. But as the ice

09/03/2026

"Issues that relate to social memory have largely been overlooked. Latvians know what it means to fight for your independence, and this was an important source of solidarity [with Ukraine]" (13:28).

Tune in to for more from Inta Mieriņa on how historical memory affects Latvian attitudes toward Ukrainian migrants.

How European societies received Ukrainian refugees

09/03/2026

The Orbis Journal of World Affairs is accepting submissions for the Fall 2027 special issue: "Power Transitions and Alliance Adaptation."

This special issue invites theoretically informed and empirically grounded academic articles and commentary pieces examining how war, economic interdependence, and competition over strategic resources have shaped and may shape or reshape power transitions and alliance relationships. While Russia’s war against Ukraine and the changing transatlantic relationship will be the central empirical focus, we would also welcome contributions examining cases across other regions, including the Middle East and East Asia.

For more details and the timeline for submissions follow this link to read Orbis' official call: https://buff.ly/y6BJ8NC.

09/03/2026

For his latest analysis, Seth Hosford observed China's private sector drone industry to gain insight into technology that would affect future CCP military capabilities.

Data link technologies, anti-spoofing capabilities, and stealth coatings for drones are gaining traction. Hosford also notes alleged developments by civilian companies, including drone swarming technology and autonomous target recognition, which suggest a link between research institutions and military applications.

For more details, click the link below⬇️

Divining the intentions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is never a straightforward task. But when it comes to assessing the future of China’s military

09/03/2026

⏰️ Last Chance to Register | Tuesday, September 8 | 5:00 PM

Join FPRI for an in-person conversation hosted by Aaron Stein and Sam Lair, focusing on the structure, cost, and potential adversary responses to proposed satellite constellations under the Golden Dome Program.

Aaron Stein and Sam Lair will discuss their forthcoming FPRI report on the cost and consequences of proposed space-based interceptor satellite constellations

09/03/2026

In an episode of Geospace, FPRI Fellow Mohammed Salih and Cheng Sagnic discuss the effect of the US withdrawal from Iraq on the Kurdish population, coming to the conclusion that they will not have the same fate as Syrian Kurds due to the following factors:

- Iraqi Kurdistan is a more economically prosperous region than Rojava
- It is legally protected in Iraq's Constitution
- It sits on major trade routes connecting to Europe.

In the latest episode of The New Region's GeoSpace podcast, host Mo...

09/03/2026

Given Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s stated willingness to respond in kind to any Iranian development of nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia arguably constitutes a significant proliferation risk.

Donald Trump is famous for his love of gold. His agreement with Saudi Arabia, however, has undermined the so-called “Gold Standard” for nuclear

09/03/2026

Austin Long highlights three major changes in what he dubs the Second Nuclear Century:

1. China is moving from a minimal deterrence posture to a nuclear peer.
2. Russia’s reliance on strategic weapons is growing amidst conventional weakness.
3. Emerging technologies—from AI command systems to advanced fusion—are rewriting tactical assumptions.

Read the full piece in the .

Delve into the history of nuclear weapons, from past crises to current concerns, and the potential of nuclear energy for the future.

09/02/2026

🆕 China's Civil-Military Drone Fusion by Seth Hosford

Divining the intentions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is never a straightforward task. But when it comes to assessing the future of China’s military

09/02/2026

In "Reading Germany's Rearmament," Julian Pawlak explains that the country has established its ends, ways, and means to becoming Europe's defense powerhouse, but that it still has to address capability issues. He emphasizes that to deliver on its new defense strategy, Germany must exhibit lasting political will and accept available solutions for procurement.

On April 22, 2026, Germany published what has been called the first military strategy in the Bundeswehr’s history. Signed by Chief of Defence Gen. Carsten