IPD: "Mr. Tokayev goes to Brussels"

 

 

"Mr. Tokayev goes to Brussels"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

International Policy Digest

10 July 2026

Published: https://intpolicydigest.org/mr-tokayev-goes-to-brussels/ 

 

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited Brussels in late June, where he met with senior European Union officials. By most measures, the trip was a success. According to news reports, the two sides signed memoranda of understanding worth more than $12 billion. For Astana, the visit also reinforced the logic of its long-standing multivector foreign policy, which seeks to maintain constructive relationships with major global powers, including the European Union and its member states.

It has already been a busy spring and summer for Kazakhstan on both the domestic and foreign policy fronts. In March, the country held a referendum proposing amendments to roughly 80 percent of the Constitution. The referendum passed, setting in motion sweeping institutional reforms.

FW MAG: " ISR small UGVs: helping ground troops see what’s beyond "

 

" ISR small UGVs: helping ground troops see what’s beyond "

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Future Warfare Magazine

8 July, 2026

Published: https://www.fw-mag.com/shownews/1153/isr-small-ugvs-helping-ground-troops-see-what-rsquo-s-beyond 

 

Two small uncrewed ground vehicles (sUGVs) have recently entered the market: Teledyne Flir Defense’s FIRSTLOOK 125 throwable reconnaissance robot and AeroVironment’s TOM 50RE robot for reconnaissance and explosive ordnance disposal. Both systems aim to fulfill the same demand: to provide ground units, especially dismounted troops, with reconnaissance capabilities. 

Modern Diplomacy: "The (domestic) problem with Armenia’s recent elections"

 

 

"The (domestic) problem with Armenia’s recent elections"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez 

Modern Diplomacy 

5 July 2026

Published: https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2026/07/06/the-domestic-problem-with-armenias-recent-elections/ 

 

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been re-elected to another term after being victorious in his country’s 7 June elections. His re-election is a relief for Washington and Europe, given Pashinyan’s foreign policy ideologies and objectives. However, his domestic policies are very problematic; the repression and crackdown on freedom of speech leading up to the elections could signal a period of hardship for the Armenian population in the foreseeable future.

The elections in Armenia were closely monitored internationally, as much was at stake at a regional level. The obvious primary foreign policy issue for Armenia is the future of the peace process between Yerevan and the Azerbaijani government; Pashinyan’s re-election was critical to keeping the negotiations between the two neighbors alive. Moreover, given its location in the Caucasus, Armenia could become a critical transportation zone in regional trade networks such as the Middle Corridor; however, to achieve this goal, the Armenian government must be willing to engage and cooperate with neighbors like Azerbaijan, Georgia, and, yes, Türkiye.

Vice News: "Protecting the World Cup From Drones"

 

 

"Protecting the World Cup From Drones"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Vice News - Substack

28 June, 2026

Published: https://substack.com/home/post/p-203629382

 

Today, the sound of war isn’t the terrible rumble of a tank or a clattering Kalashnikov. It is the buzz of a drone. Death comes from above in 2026; uncrewed, unafraid and uncomplicated. Aerial warfare, prohibitively expensive since its introduction in the 20th century, is now globally accessible and affordable. This summer, authorities in North America are asking a new question: how do you prevent this threat from leaving the battlefield and entering the soccer pitch?

 

As I write, the World Cup is in full swing and for the first time in years it feels like the planet is unified in watching something joyful. But the fear in defense circles is that drones could be used by lone wolves, criminal organizations, or terrorist entities to target fans, players and officials at the largest sporting event on Earth.