--- title: "Defense Policy — News & Analysis | Model Diplomat" description: "Browse 49 stories and expert analysis tagged Defense Policy on Model Diplomat — diplomacy, politics, and global-affairs coverage for Model UN." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/tag/defense-policy" --- > For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://modeldiplomat.com/llms.txt). Skip to main content ## 49 Stories [asia_pacific](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/chinas-taiwan-blockade-playbook-white-hulls) ### [China's Taiwan Blockade Playbook: White Hulls](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/chinas-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/chinas-taiwan-blockade-playbook-white-hulls) [2026-07-19](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/chinas-taiwan-blockade-playbook-white-hulls) [climate_energy](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/pentagons-100b-critical-minerals-loan-plan) ### [Pentagon's $100B Critical Minerals Loan Plan](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/pentagons-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/pentagons-100b-critical-minerals-loan-plan) [2026-07-17](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/pentagons-100b-critical-minerals-loan-plan) [asia_pacific](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-armored-drill-targets-decapitation) ### [Taiwan's Armored Drill Targets Decapitation](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-armored-drill-targets-decapitation) [2026-07-16](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-armored-drill-targets-decapitation) [asia_pacific](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-armored-drill-rehearses-decapitation) ### [Taiwan's Armored Drill Rehearses Decapitation](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-armored-drill-rehearses-decapitation) [2026-07-16](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-armored-drill-rehearses-decapitation) [tech_policy](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-grants-uae-license-free-ai-chip-access) ### [U.S. Grants UAE License-Free AI Chip Access](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-grants-uae-license-free-ai-chip-access) [2026-07-10](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-grants-uae-license-free-ai-chip-access) [economics_markets](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/turkeys-f-35-reset-what-trump-can-deliver) ### [Turkey's F-35 Reset: What Trump Can Deliver](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/turkeys-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/turkeys-f-35-reset-what-trump-can-deliver) [2026-07-09](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/turkeys-f-35-reset-what-trump-can-deliver) [politics_diplomacy](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-ukrainian-patriot-production-deal) ### [Trump's Ukrainian Patriot Production Deal](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-ukrainian-patriot-production-deal) [Trump greenlights Ukrainian production of Patriot missiles, reshaping NATO's air defense strategy and boosting European industrial cooperation.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-ukrainian-patriot-production-deal) [2026-07-09](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-ukrainian-patriot-production-deal) [conflict_security](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-ukraine-patriot-missile-deal) ### [Trump's Ukraine Patriot Missile Deal](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-ukraine-patriot-missile-deal) [2026-07-09](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-ukraine-patriot-missile-deal) [asia_pacific](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-coast-guard-patrol-with-foreign-mps) ### [Taiwan's Coast Guard Patrol with Foreign MPs](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-coast-guard-patrol-with-foreign-mps) [2026-07-09](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-coast-guard-patrol-with-foreign-mps) [climate_energy](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/pentagons-300m-lithium-stockpile-move) ### [Pentagon's $300M Lithium Stockpile Move](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/pentagons-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/pentagons-300m-lithium-stockpile-move) [2026-07-09](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/pentagons-300m-lithium-stockpile-move) [climate_energy](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/natos-12-nation-minerals-pact-explained) ### [NATO's 12-Nation Minerals Pact Explained](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/natos-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/natos-12-nation-minerals-pact-explained) [2026-07-09](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/natos-12-nation-minerals-pact-explained) [asia_pacific](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/marcos-orders-afp-to-hold-the-line-in-scs) ### [Marcos Orders AFP to Hold the Line in SCS](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/marcos-orders-afp-to-hold-the-line-in-scs) [2026-07-09](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/marcos-orders-afp-to-hold-the-line-in-scs) [asia_pacific](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/marcos-hardens-philippine-line-in-south-china) ### [Marcos Hardens Philippine Line in South China](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/marcos-hardens-philippine-line-in-south-china) [2026-07-09](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/marcos-hardens-philippine-line-in-south-china) [asia_pacific](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/chinas-maritime-gambit-110-ships-shift-tide) ### [China's Maritime Gambit: 110 Ships Shift Tide](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/chinas-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/chinas-maritime-gambit-110-ships-shift-tide) [2026-07-09](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/chinas-maritime-gambit-110-ships-shift-tide) [asia_pacific](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/chinas-batanes-claim-a-legal-probe) ### [China's Batanes Claim: A Legal Probe](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/chinas-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/chinas-batanes-claim-a-legal-probe) [2026-07-09](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/chinas-batanes-claim-a-legal-probe) [tech_policy](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-f-35-offer-to-turkey-nato-impacts) ### [Trump's F-35 Offer to Turkey: NATO Impacts](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-f-35-offer-to-turkey-nato-impacts) [2026-07-08](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-f-35-offer-to-turkey-nato-impacts) [asia_pacific](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-warning-on-chinas-expansionism) ### [Taiwan's Warning on China's Expansionism](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-warning-on-chinas-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-warning-on-chinas-expansionism) [2026-07-08](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-warning-on-chinas-expansionism) [asia_pacific](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-gray-zone-coalition-faces-test) ### [Taiwan's Gray-Zone Coalition Faces Test](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-gray-zone-coalition-faces-test) [2026-07-08](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/taiwans-gray-zone-coalition-faces-test) [asia_pacific](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/ruttes-indo-pacific-pivot-in-ankara) ### [Rutte's Indo-Pacific Pivot in Ankara](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/ruttes-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/ruttes-indo-pacific-pivot-in-ankara) [2026-07-08](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/ruttes-indo-pacific-pivot-in-ankara) [asia_pacific](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/natos-ip4-pact-deepens-pressure-on-china) ### [NATO's IP4 Pact Deepens Pressure on China](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/natos-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/natos-ip4-pact-deepens-pressure-on-china) [2026-07-08](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/natos-ip4-pact-deepens-pressure-on-china) [politics_diplomacy](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/natos-50bn-arms-deals-in-ankara-summit) ### [NATO's $50bn Arms Deals in Ankara Summit](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/natos-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/natos-50bn-arms-deals-in-ankara-summit) [2026-07-08](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/natos-50bn-arms-deals-in-ankara-summit) [asia_pacific](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/lees-nato-pitch-a-european-answer-to-kim) ### [Lee's NATO Pitch: A European Answer to Kim](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/lees-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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/lees-nato-pitch-a-european-answer-to-kim) [2026-07-08](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/lees-nato-pitch-a-european-answer-to-kim) [asia_pacific](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/lee-turns-to-nato-on-north-korea-deal) ### [Lee Turns to NATO on North Korea Deal](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/lee-turns-to-nato-on-north-korea-deal) [2026-07-08](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/lee-turns-to-nato-on-north-korea-deal) [conflict_security](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/iskander-missiles-34-western-parts-each) ### [Iskander Missiles: 34 Western Parts Each](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/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.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/iskander-missiles-34-western-parts-each) [2026-07-08](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/iskander-missiles-34-western-parts-each)