Topic
Defense Policy
News & analysis tagged Defense Policy — diplomacy, politics, and global affairs coverage from Model Diplomat.
49 Stories
China's Taiwan Blockade Playbook: White Hulls
Senator Tammy Duckworth warns China will likely blockade Taiwan by 2028 using coast guard vessels under legal cover, not military invasion, citing rehearsed exercises and economic stakes of $2.45 trillion in trade.
2026-07-19
Pentagon's $100B Critical Minerals Loan Plan
Pentagon launches $100B National Security Fund Finance program for critical minerals, routing loans through private funds. But $500M subsidy implies 0.5% default rate, far below DoD's own 9.97% rate.
2026-07-17
Taiwan's Armored Drill Targets Decapitation
Taiwan's July 15 Clouded Leopard drill rehearses decentralized command of the Bo'ai Special Zone, targeting the PLA's decapitation-strike scenario. The exercise signals a doctrinal shift from static garrison to survivable command-and-control, with implications for cross-strait deterrence and U.S. arms policy.
2026-07-16
Taiwan's Armored Drill Rehearses Decapitation
Taiwan's 2026 Joint Defense Exercises rehearse counter-decapitation with Clouded Leopard armored vehicles, testing command survival under a PLA strike scenario amid budget cuts and U.S. arms sale delays.
2026-07-16
U.S. Grants UAE License-Free AI Chip Access
U.S. Commerce reclassifies UAE to Country Group A:5, granting license-free AI chip access to G42 and American tech giants, rewarding Emirati China divestment and Operation Epic Fury sacrifices.
2026-07-10
Turkey's F-35 Reset: What Trump Can Deliver
Trump's commitment to lift CAATSA sanctions and reconsider the F-35 sale to Turkey faces legal hurdles and congressional opposition, benefiting European defense firms.
2026-07-09
Trump's Ukrainian Patriot Production Deal
Trump greenlights Ukrainian production of Patriot missiles, reshaping NATO's air defense strategy and boosting European industrial cooperation.
2026-07-09
Trump's Ukraine Patriot Missile Deal
Trump grants Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missiles, but the timeline is years, not weeks, as Kyiv faces ongoing Russian attacks.
2026-07-09
Taiwan's Coast Guard Patrol with Foreign MPs
Seven foreign lawmakers join Taiwan's Coast Guard patrol, highlighting rising Chinese maritime pressure and Taiwan's strategic response.
2026-07-09
Pentagon's $300M Lithium Stockpile Move
The Pentagon plans to buy $300M worth of lithium carbonate, marking its first addition to the strategic stockpile, amid rising concerns over China's export controls.
2026-07-09
NATO's 12-Nation Minerals Pact Explained
NATO launches a 12-nation project to stockpile critical raw materials, revealing strategic divides among allies and China's dominance in refining.
2026-07-09
Marcos Orders AFP to Hold the Line in SCS
President Marcos orders the Armed Forces of the Philippines to hold their ground in the West Philippine Sea as tensions with China escalate.
2026-07-09
Marcos Hardens Philippine Line in South China
President Marcos orders AFP to sustain external defense in the West Philippine Sea, marking a significant shift in strategy against Chinese aggression.
2026-07-09
China's Maritime Gambit: 110 Ships Shift Tide
China's record deployment of over 110 ships along the First Island Chain challenges US influence and alters regional security dynamics.
2026-07-09
China's Batanes Claim: A Legal Probe
China's claim over Batanes signals a legal challenge to Japan-Philippines EEZ talks, testing Manila's alliance with the US.
2026-07-09
Trump's F-35 Offer to Turkey: NATO Impacts
At the NATO summit, Trump hinted at lifting sanctions and selling F-35s to Turkey, raising concerns for Israel and Greece's military balance.
2026-07-08
Taiwan's Warning on China's Expansionism
Taiwan's National Security Council warns that China's maritime coercion will escalate unless democracies unite to counteract it amid US arms flow slowdown.
2026-07-08
Taiwan's Gray-Zone Coalition Faces Test
Taiwan's President Lai pitches democratic cooperation as China tests military might, raising questions about regional stability and defense budgets.
2026-07-08
Rutte's Indo-Pacific Pivot in Ankara
NATO's Indo-Pacific strategy shifts focus from political ambitions to defense contracts, as Rutte emphasizes industrial cooperation in Ankara.
2026-07-08
NATO's IP4 Pact Deepens Pressure on China
NATO's July 2026 IP4 pact in Ankara enhances defense ties with Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, countering threats from China and North Korea.
2026-07-08
NATO's $50bn Arms Deals in Ankara Summit
NATO's Ankara summit unveils over $50 billion in arms deals, highlighting Europe's shift towards strategic autonomy and away from US defense reliance.
2026-07-08
Lee's NATO Pitch: A European Answer to Kim
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung seeks NATO's support to halt North Korea's nuclear ambitions, offering defense industry access in return.
2026-07-08
Lee Turns to NATO on North Korea Deal
At the NATO summit, South Korea's Lee Jae-myung sought help against North Korea but left with a defense industry partnership instead.
2026-07-08
Iskander Missiles: 34 Western Parts Each
Ukraine reports each Iskander-M missile contains 34 foreign components, with air defenses failing to intercept attacks, raising concerns over sanctions effectiveness.
2026-07-08