Stu Bradin’s Post

Food for thought. My personal opinion: Germany's role within NATO collective defence is in an ongoing change and redefinition, too. The required capabilities as an hub with "(wartime) host nation support", as a logistic and medical base in the rear area / European depth and as an "unsinkable aircraft carrier" in Central Europe are to be filled with capabilities and strong own defence. Deployable forces, deployability and predeployed forces are the other part. It is something different in comparison with the German Cold War set up.

🚀 German businesses are breaking a long-standing taboo and entering the #defence sector! The shift comes as Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparks a rethink of national security priorities. 💼 From engine makers to laser manufacturers, #Mittelstand companies are eyeing military contracts as a new frontier for growth. Is this the dawn of a new era for German industry? https://lnkd.in/eiJ3Gduu #GeopoliticalShift #IndustryTransformation #EconomicAdaptation #BusinessDiplomacy

Russia is becoming more dangerous, America is less reliable and Europe remains unprepared. The problem is simply put, but the scale of its solution is hard to comprehend. The security arrangements based on NATO that emerged from the second world war—and have prevented a third—are so much part of Europe’s fabric that remaking them will be an immense task. European leaders urgently need to jettison their post-Soviet complacency. That means raising defence spending to a level not seen in decades, restoring Europe’s neglected military traditions, restructuring its arms industries and preparing for a possible war. The work has barely begun. #Europe #not #prepared #for #war #against #Russia #with #low #defense #spending #neglected #military #traditions

Correct in all respects. This is what happens when US and allies leave a job half done. I’ve been a deep-dive student of Russian history, politics, economics, and society (at the molecular level) for 50 years; have lived there for lengthy periods; speak Russian and Ukrainian fluently; and know dozens of key Russian leaders (including Putin) personally and well. I’m privileged to be privy to their capabilities, strategic thinking, and intentions. I’ll condense all that and boil it down for you in terms of current events: Russia operates according to one timeless logic: If stopped; they stop. If not, they keep going. If they keep going, we WILL BE in #ww3 very soon (less than 3 years, perhaps much sooner). And more Americans WILL DIE than in WW2. Many more. Including more than a few of your children and grandchildren. #THINK #globalsecurity #eurosecurity #nationalsecurity #standwithukraine 🇺🇦

China ended two days of war games around Taiwan, where it simulated attacks with bombers and practiced boarding ships. Taiwan condemned the exercises as a "blatant provocation" and detailed a surge of Chinese warplanes and warships. China's defense ministry did not comment on the drills. The exercises, named "Joint Sword - 2024A," were launched three days after Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, took office, whom Beijing considers a "separatist." Taiwan detected 62 Chinese military aircraft and 27 navy ships during the exercises, with some crossing the Taiwan Strait's median line. Taiwan's government condemned the drills and vowed not to be cowed by Chinese pressure. The Chinese military released a video titled "A six-word rhyme on smashing independence," showing their combat capabilities and pledging to take action against separatist plots. #AsiaRisk #GeopoliticalConflictandDisputes #India Follow us for daily updates on risk and operations in Asia! https://lnkd.in/gqJ8AMjn

The US and NATO denial to Ukraine of the means necessary to control its airspace has been one of the biggest strategic mistakes in the battle against Russian aggression. The rationale was to avoid escalation. The result has been to stretch out this war and to sap Ukraine's army. The Russia airforce is terrible. The fact that it has grounded its A-50s for fear of losing them is indicative of that. What good are planes you are afraid to lose? But the Russian airforce is still more than what the West has provided to Ukraine. Long-awaited F-16s are coming--more than two years into the war. The US/Germany have sat on the warplanes that reside in NATO that Ukrainian pilots are already trained to fly. Biden's strategy of "as long as it takes" is a loser's approach to war. The purpose of war is to defeat the enemy. This is usually achieved via the consistent application of overwhelming force. The faster this is done, the shorter the war. The correct strategy is "whatever it takes." Ukraine is the front line of the global power struggle of autocracy against democracy. The US and NATO should read some Shun Tzu and act like democracy is worth defending before the wolf is at the Polish border. #Ukraine Angela Sax Alexander McWhorter Andy Hunder Olena Malynska Judith Baker Robert McConnell John Moran Tetyana Prokopchuk Steven Moore Roman Sheremeta Marianna Kozintseva Marijn Markus Dan Rice 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 Nicolai Kiskalt Yurii Shafarenko Oleksandr Zavalov Vira Savchenko Bohdan Тyrus, PhD Andrea Januta Siobhan O'GradyUkraine.ua Vlad Skots Mick Safron Roman Rodriguez Robin Horsfall Dr. Wladimir Klitschko Phillip Karber Monique Brown Atlantic Council Council on Foreign Relations Center for a New American Security (CNAS) RAND The Brookings Institution Hudson Institute American Enterprise Institute Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) United States Department of Defense U.S. Department of State #foreignpolicy #nationalsecurity Admiral James Stavridis General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.) https://lnkd.in/gcJaM9N4

Very interesting 17 minutes on BBC News about NATO spending. Key take-aways for Belgium by Gen. (ret.) Marc Thys 1️⃣ With 1,2%GDP for defense, Belgium is falling behind and risks to be isolated. 2️⃣ Yes, we are vulnerable with the NATO and EU headquarters on Belgian territory. 3️⃣ NATO’s strength relies on solidarity and unity. Defensie #defense https://lnkd.in/e8XGVvhu

Actions need to follow. Ukraine needs to armed with Leopards, F16, Taurus missles, Patriot missles and far more then „talking“ Weapons for the Ukraine NOW, it is getting late . #antiputin #Eu #germany #europeancommission 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇪🇺🇺🇦🇪🇺🇺🇦🇪🇺🇺🇦🇪🇺🇺🇦♥️ EU should prepare for war by end of decade, German Defence Minister warns https://lnkd.in/giBuD2YT

Our latest report from the Intelligence Department written by Christopher Dufty examines exclusively the systems, capabilities, successes and failures of the Russian strategic strike systems and draw out lessons that can be used both to examine Russian strategic weakness and advise planning and acquisition suggestions for other global military forces. He argues a key feature of the ongoing Russo-Ukraine war has been the use of strategic fires from both sides. Read the full analysis here: https://lnkd.in/eik6WhQw #ukraine #russia #ukrainewar #intelligence #politicalrisk #londonpolitica

🎙 NATO and the EU - who does what for European defence? "So I think there are a lot of questions out there, in terms of the key role that NATO has to play in setting, developing and enforcing military standards, in setting the priority requirements when it comes to capabilities and readiness and force structure, and also when it comes to developing and strengthening the transatlantic, defense industrial base, because ultimately, this is we face global issues both as NATO and as the EU. We have a global defense industry. And at the time when we see Russia and other authoritarian countries coming closer and closer together, including importing weapons that Russia can use against Ukraine, it makes no sense for democracies to drift apart. I think this is a time for all of us to invest in what keeps us together." Listen to the full episode with Rebecca Christie, Oana Lungescu and Guntram Wolff at the link below ⤵ https://lnkd.in/edBjJY7b