Russia has pulled out of an important cold war-era treaty which limited categories of conventional military equipment that Nato and the then-Warsaw Pact could deploy. The 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in…Read More >
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Ukraine war: why the world can’t afford to let Russia get away with its land grab – lessons from history
Much of the international community has condemned Russia’s annexation of four provinces of Ukraine as illegal. Joe Biden accused Vladmir Putin of a “fraudulent attempt” to claim Ukrainian territory and said the move…Read More >
Ukraine: Nato exercises a happy coincidence ‘just in case’ of escalation
Military exercises are held regularly by armed forces throughout the world. An exercise can be seen as an act of diplomacy, a direct threat, a demonstration of military capability for…Read More >
Why Russia has put the rouble on a gold standard – but it’s unlikely to last
The Bank of Russia, the country’s central bank, has surprisingly announced a fixed price for buying gold with roubles. With a price of RUB5,000 (£45.12) for a gram of gold, to my…Read More >
Ukraine: what might happen if the war spreads to a Nato country
As Russian military activity moves nearer the Ukrainian border with Nato, the potential for direct confrontation between Russia and the alliance increases. On March 13, Russian aircraft reportedly fired rockets at the…Read More >
Ukraine: how Putin used a long proxy conflict to justify invasion
In the early hours of February 24, Russia attacked Ukraine, beginning with a barrage of airstrikes in the country’s eastern regions. Other major cities came under siege within a matter…Read More >
Ukraine: the problem with copying Finland’s strict cold war neutrality
During the tense negotiations over the Ukraine crisis, the idea of “Finlandizing” Ukraine has been suggested as a solution. This idea refers to the way a small or weak country can retain…Read More >
Ukraine: the economic impact of tension with Russia is part of Putin’s long-term plan
Europe is facing strong economic headwinds. Record inflation, the need to recover from the pandemic, and a divided response to Russian troop deployments along the Ukraine border, all chill the February air. Whether…Read More >
Arctic cold war: climate change has ignited a new polar power struggle
Rather than it ringing alarm bells, some nations see the melting of permafrost and sea ice in the Arctic Circle as an opportunity to get their hands on oil, gas,…Read More >