Key Takeaways Iranian officials are simultaneously employing diplomatic outreach and military coercion to pressure regional states to support a new “regional security mechanism,” likely to advance Iran’s long-standing objective of expelling the United States from the Middle East. Iran is likely using this proposed regional security mechanism to encourage Gulf …

Officially formed in August 2024 by Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, the “Rubicon” Center was created to centralize and scale Russia’s previously fractured unmanned technology initiatives (aerial, ground, and naval) under a unified umbrella responsible for research, procurement, training, and operational deployment. To prevent logistical bottlenecks and operate more independently …

From a jewel in Vladimir Putin’s imperial crown to a thorn in his side, the 2014 conquest of Crimea is coming back to haunt him as Russia’s war in Ukraine falters. Russian-installed authorities in Crimea declared an “emergency situation” on June 26, after Ukrainian attacks helped produce fuel shortages, power …