Modern Diplomacy: "The Russia-China-North Korea defense partnership"

  

"The Russia-China-North Korea defense partnership"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Modern Diplomacy

28 August, 2026

Published: https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2026/08/28/the-russia-china-north-korea-defense-partnership/

 Understanding global geopolitics is complicated and challenging, especially today. Governments have complex relationships with each other at both the bilateral and multilateral levels. This situation certainly applies to the Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea). These countries have strong bilateral relations, but trilateral cooperation (or lack thereof) also needs to be considered. Given the war in Ukraine and tensions across the Asia-Pacific, defense relations between these three nations must be understood in this evolving landscape.

 

Warsight: "Central Asia’s growing appetite for drones"

 

 

"Central Asia’s growing appetite for drones"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Warsight

26 August, 2026

Published: https://warsight.com/2026/08/26/central-asias-growing-appetite-for-drones/ 

 

The militaries of the five Central Asian countries– Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – inherited a large inventory of platforms and systems after gaining independence from the Soviet Union. Three and a half decades later, the five militaries are modernising their equipment and these countries are turning to extra-regional suppliers.

For example, Kazakhstan has received its first Airbus A400M transport aircraft in December 2024, while in February 2026 Embraer announced the sale of two C-390 Millennium transport aircraft to the Uzbekistani Air Force. Domestic industries are also developing ground vehicles such as armoured personnel carriers (APCs), and modernising legacy systems. Moreover, drone fever has arrived in the region.

 

 

Future Warfare Magazine: " Epirus announces new contract with US Marine Corps "

 

 

" Epirus announces new contract with US Marine Corps "

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Future Warfare Magazine

14 August, 2026

Published: https://www.fw-mag.com/shownews/1208/epirus-announces-new-contract-with-us-marine-corps

 

Epirus, producer of the LEONIDAS Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-UAS) platform, announced on 10 August a contract with the US Marine Corps (USMC) worth $11 million for the High-power Microwave Autonomous Vehicle Operational Capability (HAVOC) programme.  

The Diplomat: " ‘Golden Kamuy’ and Modern Russo-Japanese Relations "

 

 

"‘Golden Kamuy’ and Modern Russo-Japanese Relation"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez and Marin Ekstrom

 Tokyo Report

The Diplomat

11 August, 2026

Published: https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/golden-kamuy-and-modern-russo-japanese-relations/ 

 

The manga-turned-anime serves as an important pop cultural piece in understanding Japan’s place in the world, most specifically its historic role with Russia and their Northeast Asian borderlands.  

 

Geopolitcal Monitor: "Istanbul 2.0? Kazakhstan Steps into the Ukraine War Diplomatic Arena"

 

 

"Istanbul 2.0? Kazakhstan Steps into the Ukraine War Diplomatic Arena"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Geopolitical Monitor

Opinion

7 August, 2026

Published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/istanbul-2-0-kazakhstan-steps-into-the-ukraine-war-diplomatic-arena/ 

 

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has no end in sight, as military operations by both sides continue deep in enemy territory. The war may have become a new textbook definition of intractable conflict. Since first breaking out in February 2022, several diplomatic attempts have been rolled out to bring a peaceful resolution, without success.

Now Kazakhstan is throwing its proverbial hat into the ring.

Warsight: "SOUTHCOM looks to acquire Special Mission Vessel ‘mothership’ for maritime operations"

 

 

"SOUTHCOM looks to acquire Special Mission Vessel ‘mothership’ for maritime operations"

 Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Warsight

5 August 2026

Published: https://warsight.com/2026/08/06/southcom-plans-special-mission-vessel/

 

 US Southern Command has stepped up its efforts to acquire a new Special Mission Vessel that would essentially function as a mother ship for helicopters and unmanned systems involved in operations such as counter-illicit drug trafficking missions.

 

Warsight: "US Southern Command retrains for operations in the jungle"

 

 

"US Southern Command retrains for operations in the jungle"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Warsight

5 August, 2026

Published: https://warsight.com/2026/08/05/southern-command-goes-back-into-the-jungle/

Over the past year-and-a-half the US military has increased its presence across Latin America and the Caribbean. While the US possesses the most powerful military in the world, Latin American and Caribbean armed forces have a skill that US troops will find useful to (re)learn: jungle warfare.

 

 

Future Warfare: " Damen supports Bahamas and Colombian navies, as Caribbean threats continue "

 

 

"Damen supports Bahamas and Colombian navies, as Caribbean threats continue" 

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Future Warfare

3 August 2026

Published: https://www.fw-mag.com/shownews/1199/damen-supports-bahamas-and-colombian-navies-as-caribbean-threats-continue 

 

The Dutch shipyard Damen has announced a new contract to refit four vessels operated by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s (RBDF) Coast Guard. Damen already has a strong presence across the Greater Caribbean as various regional armed forces and coast guards sail Damen-made ships. As for the RBDF, a modern fleet is mandatory for patrolling its waters and cracking down on maritime crimes, particularly drug trafficking. 

Zona Militar: "The CCA and beyond: The future of companion drones looks bright" / "Del CCA a los helicópteros de combate: el futuro de los drones colaborativos de combate comienza a tomar forma"

 

 

"The CCA and beyond: The future of companion drones looks bright"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Zona Militar 

25 July, 2026

Published: https://www.zona-militar.com/en/2026/07/25/the-cca-and-beyond-the-future-of-companion-drones-looks-bright/

In the future of aerial warfare, aircraft will have companion aerial uncrewed platforms to support them. Or so the US military wants to see. In addition to the well-known Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program for the US Air Force, the defense manufacturer Anduril has recently unveiled Thunder, a rotor uncrewed aerial system (UAS) designed as a companion for the US Army’s Cheyenne helicopter and future rotary aircraft. 

 

"Del CCA a los helicópteros de combate: el futuro de los drones colaborativos de combate comienza a tomar forma"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Zona Militar

26 de Julio, 2026

Publicado: https://www.zona-militar.com/2026/07/25/del-cca-a-los-helicopteros-de-combate-el-futuro-de-los-drones-colaborativos-de-combate-comienza-a-tomar-forma/

 En el futuro de la guerra aérea, las aeronaves contarán con plataformas aéreas no tripuladas que las acompañarán y les brindarán apoyo. O, al menos, eso es lo que busca alcanzar el Ejército de Estados Unidos. Además del conocido programa de Aeronaves de Combate Colaborativas (CCA) de la Fuerza Aérea de Estados Unidos, el fabricante de defensa Anduril presentó recientemente Thunder, un sistema aéreo no tripulado (UAS) de rotores diseñado como plataforma de acompañamiento para el helicóptero Cheyenne del Ejército estadounidense y futuras aeronaves de ala rotatoria.

 

 

Zona Militar: "AeroVironment’s Uncrewed Systems fly high with new contracts /

 

"AeroVironment’s Uncrewed Systems fly high with new contracts"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Zona Militar

26 July 2026

Published https://www.zona-militar.com/en/2026/07/26/aerovironments-uncrewed-systems-fly-high-with-new-contracts/ 

 AeroVironment, a global producer of drones and loitering munitions, is having a successful month, with contracts announced for global customers, including the US Army and the armed forces of Greece and Germany.

 

" AeroVironment suma nuevos contratos para sus drones y municiones merodeadoras en EE.UU. y Europa"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Zona Militar

26 de Julio, 2026

Publicado:  https://www.zona-militar.com/2026/07/26/aerovironment-suma-nuevos-contratos-para-sus-drones-y-municiones-merodeadoras-en-ee-uu-y-europa/

 

AeroVironment, uno de los principales fabricantes mundiales de drones y municiones merodeadoras, está atravesando un mes exitoso, con nuevos contratos anunciados para clientes internacionales, entre ellos el Ejército de los Estados Unidos y las Fuerzas Armadas de Grecia y Alemania. 

 

The Interpreter: "Tokyo’s runway into Central Asia"

 

 "Tokyo’s runway into Central Asia"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez and Marin Ekstrom

The Interpreter - Lowy Institute

24 July 2026

Published:  https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/tokyo-s-runway-into-central-asia

 

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the two most economically developed Central Asian nations, are ambitiously expanding their commercial aviation infrastructure and fleets to make their airports and airlines more globally renowned. One of the key partners in these countries’ infrastructure transformation is Japan. 

 

Future Warfare: " BAE to deliver naval guns for Brazilian patrol ships "

 

 

" BAE to deliver naval guns for Brazilian patrol ships "

 Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Future Warfare Magazine

22 July 2026

Published:  https://www.fw-mag.com/shownews/1179/bae-to-deliver-naval-guns-for-brazilian-patrol-ships

BAE Systems announced on 16 July the sale of two “state-of-the-art” Bofors 40Mk4 naval gun systems for Brazil. The guns will be installed aboard patrol vessels being built for the Brazilian Navy’s Patrol Vessel Construction Project (Programa de Obtenção de Navios-Patrulha: PRONAPA).

In its press release, the company explained that the guns are effective against a variety of targets, including drones, missiles, helicopters, swarming boats, surface vessels, and land targets. According to the company, the gun can switch “seamlessly” among ammunition types to deliver “versatile” targeting of air-, land- and sea-based threats. BAE also noted that Brazil already operates “dozens of Bofors 40 mm guns.”

KazInform: "Reforms transfer more power to the people — US experts on Kazakhstan’s new Constitution" / "Реформы передают больше власти народу — эксперты из США о новой Конституции Казахстана"

 

 "Reforms transfer more power to the people — US experts on Kazakhstan’s new Constitution" / "Реформы передают больше власти народу — эксперты из США о новой Конституции Казахстана 

By: Рустем Кожыбаев

10 July 2026

https://www.inform.kz/ru/reformi-peredayut-bolshe-vlasti-narodu-eksperti-ssha-o-novoy-konstitutsii-kazahs-6529c723 

 Американские эксперты — вице-президент «The America-Eurasia Center» Ральф Винни и президент консалтинговой фирмы «Second Floor Strategies» Уайлдер Алехандро Санчес — поделились с собственным корреспондентом агентства Kazinform в Вашингтоне своей оценкой конституционных реформ в Казахстане.

Президент консалтинговой фирмы «Second Floor Strategies» Уайлдер Алехандро Санчес, в свою очередь, положительно оценил введение должности вице-президента.

— Я думаю, что одним из положительных изменений в новой Конституции является введение должности вице-президента, который сможет посещать Вашингтон, — отметил он.

https://www.inform.kz/ru/reformi-peredayut-bolshe-vlasti-narodu-eksperti-ssha-o-novoy-konstitutsii-kazahs-6529c723

 

Geopolitical Monitor: "Malaysia-Latin America Relations: Engagement between Distant Partners"

 

 

"Malaysia-Latin America Relations: Engagement between Distant Partners"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Opinion 

Geopolitical Monitor

 17 July, 2026

Published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/malaysia-latin-america-relations-engagement-between-distant-partners/ 

 

The world is becoming increasingly interconnected, and partnerships & alliances are being formed between countries that are geographically far apart from each other. Generally speaking, Latin America sees the United States, China, and Europe as its main extra-regional trading partners and strategic allies. However, other countries should be monitored, including Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, whose presence and engagement with Latin America have increased in recent years. However, there is one other actor that should be considered when discussing a globalized, interconnected world: Malaysia.

For analysts, scholars, and practitioners of foreign policy, Malaysia is no stranger to Latin America. One key link between the Asian nation and Latin America is the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a free-trade pact that brings together 12 economies across the Asia-Pacific, Western Hemisphere, and the United Kingdom. The other regional bloc to keep in mind is the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which includes Malaysia as well as Chile, Mexico, and Peru. Moreover, while not as notorious as Beijing’s, Tokyo’s, or Seoul’s presence, Kuala Lumpur maintains friendly bilateral relations with several Latin American nations.

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. 

Zona Militar: "Black Recon: Teledyne Flir Defense’s new Reconnaissance Micro-Drone" / "Black Recon: el nuevo microdrón de reconocimiento de Teledyne FLIR Defense presentado en Eurosatory 2026"

  

 

 "Black Recon: Teledyne Flir Defense’s new Reconnaissance Micro-Drone"'

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Zona Militar

21 June, 2026

Published: https://www.zona-militar.com/en/2026/06/21/black-recon-teledyne-flir-defenses-new-reconnaissance-micro-drone/

Teledyne Flir Defense has launched the Black Recon micro-drone; the unveiling took place during the recent Eurosatory expo in Paris. Zona Militar spoke with a Teledyne Flir Defense spokesperson to learn about the latest addition to the company’s family of uncrewed aerial systems (UASs).

 

"Black Recon: el nuevo microdrón de reconocimiento de Teledyne FLIR Defense presentado en Eurosatory 2026"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Zona Militar

21 de Junio, 2026

Publicado: https://www.zona-militar.com/2026/06/21/black-recon-el-nuevo-microdron-de-reconocimiento-de-teledyne-flir-defense-presentado-en-eurosatory/ 

 

Teledyne FLIR Defense presentó su nuevo microdrón Black Recon, cuya presentación tuvo lugar durante la reciente edición de la feria Eurosatory celebrada en París. Zona Militar dialogó con un portavoz de la compañía para conocer más detalles sobre esta nueva incorporación a la familia de sistemas aéreos no tripulados (UAS) de la empresa. 

 

Shephard: "South American MBTs: upgrades and payload modernisation could shape procurement paths"

 

 

"South American MBTs: upgrades and payload modernisation could shape procurement paths"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Land Warfare

Shephard

8 June, 2026

Published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/the-future-of-south-american-mbts-upgrades-and-payload-modernisation-present-market-opportunity/ 

 While South American geopolitics are complicated, the likelihood of inter-state warfare is low, calling into question the future of the venerable main battle tank.