Analysis - Washington Institute For Defence & Security

30 Sep 22

Why did Aliyev suddenly attack Armenia?

George Meneshian – In the early hours of September 13, 2022, the armed forces of Azerbaijan launched an offensive against Armenia. The Azerbaijani forces attacked military and civilian infrastructure in the Armenian provinces of Syunik, Vayots Dzor, and Ghegarkunik and advanced a few kilometers into the Armenian territory. Following two days of heavy clashes, a ceasefire […]

15 May 22

Bleeding Outward: The Threat of Extremist Spillover from Afghanistan to Central Asia

Following a chaotic US withdrawal in August of 2021, Afghanistan has been under control of the Taliban, the fundamentalist group which had ruled the country briefly in the 90’s. A security vacuum left by US forces has sparked concerns among neighbors that conflict might not end at the nation’s borders. The fear of extremist spillover […]

15 May 22

Why does the UAE want to be a club med for world kleptocrats?

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the massive flow of Russian riches stashed offshore has gone only one way: away from houses in London, New York, and other once-welcoming cities to avoid the new “iron curtain” of Western sanctions. As Russian billionaires and kleptocrats sought another safe haven, they discovered it most notably in Dubai. Despite […]

06 May 22

Will Russia use nuclear weapons?

Russian President Vladimir Putin subtly discussed the potential of a nuclear attack against anybody who interfered in the fight at the commencement of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The following are some of the fundamental concerns concerning the likelihood, which many experts and Western diplomats believe is distant, that Putin will deploy nuclear weapons. In his […]

03 May 22

The Ukraine War Could Be the Worst Thing for Syria.

Russia’s conflict in Ukraine has dramatically damaged Moscow’s once-dominant role in Syria, putting growing strain on the agreements it had in place with major parties such as the US, Iran, Turkey, and Israel. While some powers involved in Syria’s civil war are using the new circumstances to their advantage, Russia is attempting to maintain its […]

01 May 22

East of the Dniester: Transnistria in the Ukraine Conflict

As the Ukraine war enters its third month, the eyes of the international community remain firmly transfixed on Eastern Europe. One frontier of Russian influence which has seemed curiously frozen during this escalation, has been the tiny breakaway state of Transnistria, within the recognized territory of Moldova. The perception of a statelet motionless in the […]

01 May 22

Russia’s feared cyberattacks on the United States have failed to materialize.

Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the head of the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency stated that American networks have yet to be subjected to substantial assaults by Russian operations. “To date, we have not seen specific attacks on the U.S.,” CISA Director Jen Easterly said April 28. “What we are concerned about […]

01 May 22

Should Finland be admitted to NATO? Consider the following factors.

The trans-Atlantic security world is buzzing with the prospect of Finland joining NATO shortly. Unless there is a big political or military surprise, Finland and maybe Sweden will request NATO membership before the June NATO summit in Madrid. Within the alliance, there is widespread, though not unanimous, support for Finnish inclusion. Unfortunately for Finland and […]

08 Apr 22

NATO’s Northern Expansion

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has sent shockwaves across the world, with ripples being felt both near and far from Europe. As NATO announces its new Strategic Concept at the 2022 Madrid Summit in late June, renewed Russian belligerence is sure to be a central topic of discussion. In the same vein, two unexpected new […]