Seychelles
With Chinese warships anchoring in Cambodia, the US needs to respond
The recent mooring of Chinese warships at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base marked the unofficial inauguration of China’s first overseas naval post in the Indo-Pacific region and only its second overall....
Op-eds
Houthis Continue Threats Despite New U.S.-Led Multilateral Red Sea Operation
Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen vowed on December 19 to continue threatening international shipping in the Red Sea. “No matter how many alliances America mobilizes, our military...
Flash Briefs
What would a maritime security force mean for the Red Sea?
The Iran-backed Houthi attacks have only escalated in the past week by firing on Eilat, having begun in October to match the Hamas massacre.
Op-eds
International Maritime Security Construct issues warning as Houthis threaten commercial shipping
The International Maritime Security Construct issued a warning for vessels traveling thru the vital Bab al Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea just two days after the Houthis threatened to attack international...
Op-eds
Iran Linked to Attack on Commercial Tanker
A U.S. Navy lab confirmed Iran’s connection to a November 15 drone attack on the Liberian-flagged, Israeli-linked commercial tanker M/T Pacific Zircon, according to a press release...
Flash Briefs
China’s Military Aims
To make North Korean sanctions stick, the ‘gloves are off’ for U.S. in fight against Chinese smuggle
Cai didn’t know what he was bringing into North Korea, and he didn’t dare ask. Whenever the 49-year-old truck driver crossed the bridge into North Korea, the cargo was carefu...
Op-eds
Obama’s Iran Policy Is Lost at Sea
American negotiators and their cohorts are trying to close a deal that would let Iran keep its nuclear program, subject to intricate conditions of monitoring and enforcement. Yet how is a deal li...
Op-eds
So You Want to Be a Sanctions-Buster
It’s easy -- if you try hard enough and have the right friends! Here’s a handy how-to guide to making moolah from the mullahs.
Op-eds
How Iran Steams Past International Sanctions
By reflagging and renaming its ships, Tehran keeps one step ahead of the law.
Op-eds
British Shabaab Operative Killed in Airstrike in Somalia
Shabaab said that a British national who was "from the early people who came to jihad in Somalia" was killed in a US drone airstrike. The slain operative was a senior al Qaeda leader in East Afri...
Op-eds
America’s 4-Prong Strategy for Somalia
After years of strategic drift in Somalia, the U.S. appears to have developed a new strategy for this battle-torn country. This four-part approach, which is based on our research and confirmed by...
Op-eds
US Predators Kill 5 AQAP Fighters in Southern Yemen
Unmanned US Predators operated by the CIA and the Joint Special Operations command killed five al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighters during an airstrike in southern Yemen yesterday....
Op-eds
Yemen Claims AQAP Cleric Anwar al Awlaki ‘Killed’ in Airstrike
Yemen's Defense Ministry claimed its forces killed Anwar al Awlaki, the American cleric who serves as an operational commander for al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen. Samir Khan, another Ame...
Op-eds
US Airstrikes Kill AQAP Fighters in Southern Yemen
The US killed several members of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) during airstrikes in an area of southern Yemen, according to reports from the region. Four AQAP fighters were ki...
Op-eds
São Tomé and Príncipe: An African Exception?
That the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe might somehow escape the various "traps" – ethnic conflict, the "resource curse," poor governance, etc. – en...
Op-eds
Securing Africa
On February 6, 2007, President George W. Bush launched a major evolution in American military posture when he formally announced that he had directed the Pentagon to establish a new unified...
Op-eds
Côte d’Ivoire Crisis: Some Lessons to Be Learned
In my review last week of Africa's likely top flash points for 2011, I expressed my concern that The year that was supposed to be Côte d'Ivoire's "ann...
Op-eds
Return of the Somali Pirates
By Dr. Peter Pham After maintaining a relatively low profile since the end of the monsoon season two months ago, Somali pirates literally shot their way back into the headlines...