Research Team - Washington Institute For Defence & Security

12 Jun 22

Myanmar’s junta cannot defeat insurgents and must restore democracy, according to a US official.

According to a top US ambassador, Myanmar’s military is unlikely to be able to overcome the insurgents battling its authority and should restore democracy after seizing power last year. “It’s hard to see today how they could realistically think they can win,” said Derek Chollet, the State Department counsellor. “They’re losing territory. Their military is […]

09 Jun 22

The Polish president compares phone discussions with Putin to chatting with Hitler.

According to the German mass-selling newspaper Bild, Polish President Andrzej Duda lambasted the leaders of France and Germany for their phone contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin, comparing them to talks with Adolf Hitler during World War II. Since Russia launched a devastating invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Macron have […]

06 Jun 22

Another Russian general has been killed by Ukrainian forces.

One of Moscow’s top generals was killed amid severe battle in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas area, according to Russian official media. According to a reporter for the state-owned Rossiya 1, Maj Gen Roman Kutuzov was killed while conducting an attack on a Ukrainian hamlet in the area. According to Alexander Sladkov, Gen Kutuzov was commanding forces […]

06 Jun 22

The United Kingdom will provide Ukraine M270 multiple-launch rocket systems.

Despite Russia’s danger to the West, the UK is delivering its first long-range missiles to Ukraine, according to the defence secretary. According to Ben Wallace, the M270 multiple-launch rocket system will improve Ukraine’s defense against Russia. The government has not confirmed the number of weapons that will be deployed, although the BBC believes that three […]

04 Jun 22

Despite Putin’s “historic” error, Russia must not be humiliated, according to Macron.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that it is critical that Russia not be humiliated so that when the violence in Ukraine ceases, a diplomatic solution can be found, and that Paris will play a mediation role to end the crisis. Since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February, Macron has pushed to retain contact with Russian […]

01 Jun 22

With a food crisis coming, Milley believes that employing military force to break the Russian embargo would be a “high risk.”

In the midst of growing calls to break Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports for grain exports, America’s top military general warned that doing so militarily would be a high-risk military operation. The statements were delivered by Mark Milley, chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, to reporters as he came here […]

01 Jun 22

The German government is preparing a $108 billion defense increase for a vote.

German government and opposition party leaders are urging their members to support a constitutional amendment that would ensure a €100 billion (U.S. $108 billion) military budget proposed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in late February, just days after Russia invaded Ukraine. The fund, which is intended to fill equipment and ammunition gaps, will be critical in […]

01 Jun 22

China claims to have undertaken a “readiness patrol” surrounding Taiwan.

The Chinese military stated on Wednesday that it recently conducted a battle readiness patrol in the seas and airspace surrounding Taiwan, citing “collusion” between Washington and Taipei as justification. China, which claims democratically controlled Taiwan as its own territory, has increased its military maneuvers around the island in the last two years or so in […]

30 May 22

The US Army has agreed to backfill Stingers supplied to Ukraine.

The US Army has given Raytheon Technologies a $624.6 million contract to develop Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to replenish its own stockpile after providing around 1,400 Stingers to Ukraine to reinforce the country’s defense against the Russian incursion. The Pentagon announced Friday that “work sites and financing will be established with each order, with a projected […]

30 May 22

Poland after 500 American rocket launchers to beef up its military.

In the midst of Russia’s invasion of its neighbor Ukraine, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Bazczak revealed that he has signed a letter of request to purchase 500 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, from the United States. “We are strengthening our rocket and artillery forces,” Baszczak stated in a tweet issued by his […]