STRIKE THE TRUTH

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At 5 a.m. that morning, Ukrainians awoke to the horror of their neighbor’s troops storming into their country. Bombs rained down, children were kidnapped, families were torn apart. Millions fled, thousands perished, and countless others suffered at the hands of the Russian forces.   In this blog post, I want us to honor those who gave their lives defending Ukraine’s peace, European values, and democracy. That was all Ukraine ever wanted—and for it, the country continues to pay a devastating price.     THREE YEARS OF BLOODHSHED According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 839,040 Russian soldiers have died in combat since the start of the war. But beyond this staggering human loss, Russia has also suffered immense material destruction. Since the invasion began, it has lost 9,902 tanks, 20,653 armored personnel vehicles, 369 planes, 331 helicopters, and 28 warships and boats—...

It has been a month since Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, and it has felt like the most exhausting month of my life. Unfortunately, I doubt I’m alone in feeling this way. Trump entered office amid a storm of controversy, swiftly signing Executive Orders and upending the global status quo—something we’ve discussed before. However, his unexpected shift in policy toward Ukraine has taken many by surprise. In this blog post, I want to share my thoughts on the events of the past few days. What would a U.S. withdrawal from Europe look like? Is America drifting toward Russia and turning its back on Ukraine? A FLIPPED SCRIPT The U.S. and Russia met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to begin potential negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. However, Ukraine was notably absent from the table, and the U.S. appeared to treat Russia as the victim in this war of aggression. The talks led nowhere, leaving European allies confused and Ukraine deeply uneasy. The U.S. de...

A great deal has unfolded over the past week at the Munich Security Conference, leaving both Europe and Ukraine in a state of uncertainty. The U.S. has signaled a more isolationist stance, even threatening to withdraw military troops and funding from Europe. This shift puts the security framework that Europe has relied on since the end of World War II and the Cold War on increasingly shaky ground—with no clear alternative in sight. In this blog post, I want to examine what this new, more aggressive U.S. position means for Europe and explore potential paths forward. AMERICA WILL NOT PAY! The Trump administration, led by the world's wealthiest man and a real estate mogul, is increasingly obsessed with cutting costs, hoarding funds, and boosting U.S. coffers. While every country grapples with inflation and rising living costs, slashing expenses at the expense of global influence and long-standing alliances is reckless beyond measure. Yet, this is precisely what Trump and his cronies, ...

In an era of Trump economics and threats of tariffs looming in the near future, Europe faces a pressing question: can it trust China and build a closer economical relationship? As the world’s second-largest economy, China plays a crucial role in global trade, technology, and diplomacy. Yet, its authoritarian governance, human rights concerns, and aggressive geopolitical strategies make its reliability uncertain. While economic ties between Europe and China have deepened over the years, tensions remain over security, human rights, and supply chain dependencies.  This blog post examines whether Europe can afford to trust China, weighing economic pragmatism against strategic caution. EUROPE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA    Europe’s relationship with China is both intricate and dynamic, shaped by deep economic ties and persistent political tensions. China is the EU’s second-largest source of imports and a crucial trading partner, particularly in technology, green energy, and manu...

It has only been a few weeks since Donald Trump took office as the 47th President of the United States, yet the global stage has already been turned upside down. The media is overflowing with stories about him, each more outrageous than the last. From undermining democracy in the U.S. to claiming he will take over Gaza or broker some wildly unrealistic peace deal in Ukraine, the sheer volume of it all is overwhelming.   This week, I want to cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters in this increasingly Trump-dominated media landscape. In my view, Europe must remain laser-focused on Ukraine. The growing danger is that a so-called "peace deal" with Russia could ultimately mean a "war deal" for Europe.  THE FORCE OF DONALD TRUMP Hate him, love him, or simply tolerate him, Donald Trump is now the President of the United States. He swept into office on a wave of outlandish promises, got elected, and is now bulldozing through Executive Order after Executive Or...

Drones have firmly established themselves as a staple of modern warfare, accounting for a significant portion of battlefield casualties and effectively serving as a pseudo flying infantry. The ominous buzz of drones overhead instills fear in soldiers hunkering down in foxholes, a testament to how drone technology has drastically reshaped modern combat. However, traditional drones remain vulnerable to electronic warfare, as they can be easily jammed. Enter fiber optic drones—tethered aerial systems connected to ground stations via fiber optic cables. These drones provide uninterrupted communication, secure data transmission, and extended operational time, making them invaluable assets in combat scenarios. This blog post explores how fiber optic drones work, their advantages and drawbacks, and their expanding role in modern military operations, particularly in active war zones like Ukraine. An example of a HIGHCAT tethered drone ( Picture credits: HIGHCAT) HOW FIBRE OPTIC DRONES WORK Fib...