Op-Ed: Where does the Italian Army go?

In recent years, we’ve witnessed a slow breakdown of Italian military institutions. It’s a crisis that affects the whole of Europe but in Italy, has consequences that reflect on the dignity of the army environment. The most worrying data related to the investment which, with Italian Defense Minister Elisabetta Trenta, has reached an all-time low. […]

When seconds matter: American and European SOF medics hone their craft

Treating a wounded comrade while under fire is one of the tougher aspects of war-fighting. Enemy fire and adverse battlefield conditions add to the existing stress of a medical emergency. The wounded’s life is in the balance and there’s no room for error. That is the reason why medics undergo long intellectually, emotionally, and mentally […]

The Pic of the Day: Paratrooper of Exercise Immediate Response

A U.S. Army paratrooper assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade dons his parachute while participating in Immediate Response 19 at Italy’s Aviano Air Base, May 13, 2019. Exercise Immediate Response is a multinational exercise co-led by Croatian Armed Forces, Slovenian Armed Forces, and U.S. Army Europe. The logistics-focused exercise is designed to test and improve […]

Is Trump diplomacy working? NATO allies to pay for huge US base

In a most unanticipated decision, NATO member states have decided to finance the construction of a huge military storage site for U.S. military hardware in Poland. The project, which is the largest of its kind in recent history, will include storage for tanks, armored personnel carriers, general utility vehicles, artillery pieces, and other materiel. Its […]

One’s weapons embargo is another’s gain: How a German arms embargo benefits the US

The German parliament has passed a motion that extends an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia until September. German lawmakers cited the ongoing civil war in Yemen and the murder of U.S-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi for the decision. The previous embargo, which was activated last October after the vicious murder of Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate […]

European Allies form a new regional special operations command to counter Russia

In an unanticipated but promising move, five European countries will establish a new Regional Special Operations Component Command (R-SOCC) according to NATO standards. According to NATO, defense ministers of Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) in February 2019 to create a common Special Operations Command. Austria, a partner nation, will […]

‘Terrorism threat overblown’ says top US general in Africa

In a testimony delivered to the House Armed Services Committee, General Thomas Waldhauser (USMC), the commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), offered some valuable insight into American initiatives and, more importantly, state and non-state threats. General Waldhauser stated that, contrary to popular belief, “the threats we are working against aren’t necessarily a threat to the […]

Watch: Just another thing A-10s can do — land on highways

Since Russia’s military annexation of Crimea in 2014, NATO officials have been working tirelessly to find ways to effectively counter Russian aggression throughout Europe’s Eastern flank. Troops from throughout the alliance have established new commands all over the continent, and plans continue to develop to mount an even more robust defensive posture in the region. […]

With Islamic State destroyed, what will happen to the more than 1,000 ISIS prisoners?

As the fight against the Islamic State in Syria (ISIS) draws to a bloody conclusion, the question of what will happen to the ISIS prisoners of war (POWs) who were captured by the U.S.-led international coalition or its local partners becomes increasingly pressing. During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, General Raymond Thomas, the head […]

Russia sent 11 fighter jets in ‘mock attack’ on Norwegian missile defense radar station

Amid heightening tensions between Russia and Norway, a formation of 11 Russian-flagged Su-24 “Fencer” fighters staged a mock attack last year against a Norwegian radar installation that plays a vital role in America’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Defense strategy. The details of the incident were not revealed until now. According to recent revelations, the formation took […]