Justin Katz’s Post

Arctic's geopolitics and military strategies are evolving rapidly. Explore the shifting dynamics in this updated look at the Arctic. #WinterWarfare #SOFREP #ArcticGeopolitics https://lnkd.in/gzrSD2gA

China's newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is almost ready to go to sea, marking a significant advancement in the country's naval power. With the addition of catapults, similar to US carriers, the Fujian is set to challenge the US Navy for the top spot in carrier capabilities, potentially changing the security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. Despite not having nuclear propulsion like some US carriers, the Fujian is expected to have enough logistical support to conduct global operations once operational. The rapid progress of China in carrier development poses a significant shift in global carrier operations, with the US Navy currently holding a distinct edge over other carrier operators. #AsiaRisk #GeopoliticalConflictandDisputes #Taiwan Follow us for daily updates on risk and operations in Asia! https://lnkd.in/g368pnMQ

"Welcome to the new era of global sea power" discusses the resurgence of naval power in global geopolitics. Our key takeaways: ✒ Western naval dominance is eroding, with China's navy now the largest and European navies weakened. ✒ Maritime regions like the South China Sea, Red Sea, and the waters around Taiwan are becoming central to global conflicts, with major powers asserting their naval strengths. ✒ Modern naval warfare emphasises submarines and advanced surveillance, with Western powers maintaining a technological edge in undersea warfare. ✒ The oceans are crucial for global trade and internet traffic, making them a strategic priority for statecraft and military planning. ✒ The flexibility and strategic importance of naval forces are highlighted, demonstrating how they can swiftly respond to geopolitical shifts and crises. 📢 The missing point here is cybersecurity, which is increasingly integral to modern naval operations and warfare, especially given the reliance on digital technologies and the need to protect these systems from cyber threats. This aspect is crucial in understanding the full spectrum of challenges and strategies in contemporary naval power. #maritimecybersecurity

Have you ever wondered what in the world the U.S. military is doing in Alaska? Follow this link to learn more about how melting summer sea ice is raising the stakes for Arctic superpowers in the region.

In recent years, the U.S. military has highlighted exercises in the Arctic to underscore the region's importance, trumpeting its commitment to protecting U.S. security interests there. But while recent policies highlight the region’s critical importance, along with the military’s growing interest in it as climate change reshapes the polar environment, experts argue the United States has done little to commit the targeted, long-term investment or build up the capacity needed to lead in the Arctic. Read the story: https://lnkd.in/ec3Qv_Ha

The Arctic Business Journal flagged an interesting first-hand account in the The Barents Observer between a Norwegian fishing vessel and a Russian warship in the Norwegian Exclusive Economic Zone. This study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies (SJMS) revealed an evolving pattern in Russia's military exercises in the High North, most notably, a geographic shift of exercises from lower to higher latitudes, particularly since Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. (https://lnkd.in/ewrQyvDZ) The researchers present four possible hypotheses behind these changes, but acknowledge that the current information is inadequate to determine a most likely reasoning and that the situation is fluid. Here at CASP, these events and this study certainly make us wonder about similar activities, and their motives, observed in the Pacific Arctic and Bering Sea that echo over the same period.

How imminent and "on your doorstep" is the current global situation? During World War II, several merchant ships were sunk in the Gulf of Mexico primarily due to attacks by German submarines. Here are a few notable examples: SS Gulfpenn - Sunk by German submarine U-507 on May 1, 1942. SS Alcoa Puritan - Sunk by German submarine U-507 on May 6, 1942. SS Virginia - Sunk by German submarine U-558 on June 16, 1942. SS Caribsea - Sunk by German submarine U-123 on July 17, 1942. SS Robert E. Lee - Sunk by German submarine U-166 on July 30, 1942. SS Virginia Sinclair - Sunk by German submarine U-171 on November 10, 1942. SS Empire Mica - Sunk by German submarine U-106 on February 22, 1943. These are just a few examples, and there were other merchant ships sunk in the Gulf of Mexico during World War II as well. The Gulf was a target-rich environment for German U-boats due to the high volume of shipping traffic passing through the area. https://lnkd.in/eCQbZisR

HDI's Strategic Focus: Expanding Arctic Enagements The Arctic stands out as a unique arena where 21st-century geostrategic competition intersects prominently with global challenges of climate change and economic stability and is a region of strategic importance for the United States and its NATO allies, as underscored by the release of the 2022 National Strategy for the Arctic Region and the Implementation Plan for the Arctic Region. As part of that effort, Arctic Edge is an annual defense exercise for the U.S. Northern Command emphasizing Joint Force operations in an extreme cold weather and high latitude environment and is designed to demonstrate Globally Integrated Layered Defense in the Arctic. One of HDI's priorities is to enhance engagements with academic and research activities to deepen understanding of the Arctic operating environment and expand collaborations. More on Arctic Edge can be found at the following links: https://lnkd.in/eC7cyd5A https://lnkd.in/gMsvyT2p

There are growing signs that great power rivalry is making a comeback in the Arctic region, and China, a self-proclaimed “near-Arctic state,” has shown growing interest in expanding its activity in it. This article investigates China’s Arctic intentions in the context of the recently emerging notion of “total national security” in the country, and suggests that individual aspects of China’s Arctic strategy – including its Arctic military strategy – should not be analyzed on their own but should, rather, be seen as a manifestation of China’s rather unique total security conception in a regional context. https://lnkd.in/ezAgkPU3