A Westward Ukraine, Territorial Expansion, and Trouble for Taiwan

Why have Baltic States disconnected from the Russian energy grid? Can Houthi and Taiwanese leadership withstand outside pressure? Is Russia creating a new middle class? Why didn’t the US ever invade Canada? Is a nuclear Iran imminent?

War on the Rocks contributors tackled these questions, among many others, this week. Read below.

Articles

Keeping the 49th parallel peaceful has been no easy feat.

Only one region is absent from the map wars of the mid-20th century.

Ukraine is shifting westward — its economy, its exports, and its future.

Taking out a leader won’t work if the system propping him up remains intact.

Beijing sees Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te as a troublemaker — will its military pressure force him to change course?

Putin’s new power play: war veterans as Moscow’s rising elite.

What really drives military recruitment success? It depends on who you ask.

A stronger U.S.-Indian alliance forces Beijing to rethink its military plans.

Is defense innovation working? Without the right metrics, we’ll never know.

A fleet that can’t update in real-time is a fleet that falls behind.

Podcasts

With global attention on Gaza, how are Israel's operations unfolding in the West Bank?

Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia’s recent switch to the European power grid is loaded with symbolism but driven by very real security concerns.

Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran — united in defiance or divided by distrust?

NATO needs to innovate before the next crisis starts. Hear from one of the people making it happen.

How does a marine transition from military service to hosting a podcast?

Iran could have a nuclear weapon in a matter of months. What can the Trump administration do to prevent it?

What will China’s massive new military compound mean for America and Taiwan?

Although the Ladakh crisis has ended in peace, India will be thinking of it for years to come.

The numbers don’t lie — what Russia’s dwindling equipment stocks reveal about the war.

Servicemembers can bring valuable perspectives to Capitol Hill — find out more about legislative liaisons.

The ceasefire in Gaza has held so far. How is implementation going?

What’s driving recent clashes between rival militant groups?

After years of bombing Syria in support of the Assad regime, can Moscow and Damascus reach an agreement?