Lukos’ Post

Major General Rose King, the first woman to lead the New Zealand Army, has called for tailored military training programs for Pacific nations, emphasizing the importance of understanding local needs amid increasing geopolitical competition in the region. In a recent interview, King discussed the growing influence of global powers like the U.S. and China in the Pacific, noting that while many nations offer military assistance, the support often does not match the specific requirements of smaller island nations. New Zealand's military approach prioritizes relationship-building and cultural understanding, which are essential for effective collaboration in the South Pacific. King pointed out that Pacific nations often receive offers that are not aligned with their needs. For example, New Zealand has been training Pacific soldiers for decades, focusing on building trust and open communication. This contrasts with some larger nations that struggle to adapt their proposals to fit the unique contexts of these smaller countries, potentially leading to ineffective or unwanted assistance. Despite having a small military force, New Zealand's strength lies in its historical ties and cultural connections with Pacific nations. However, the New Zealand Army faces challenges, such as resource limitations and a lack of strong military service culture among the public. King expressed a desire for New Zealand to "shout louder" about its capabilities and contributions to regional security. By sharing its story more effectively, New Zealand can enhance its role in fostering stability and cooperation in the Pacific. Moreover, as geopolitical tensions rise, particularly with climate change and transnational crime affecting the region, King stressed that New Zealand must be prepared for a broader range of challenges. She highlighted that a robust international rules-based order is crucial for New Zealand's national security. #NewZealand #MilitaryTraining #PacificNations #Geopolitics #Defense #MajorGeneralRoseKing #SoftPower #InternationalRelations #MilitaryCollaboration #PacificSecurity #CulturalLinks #TrustBuilding #TailoredSupport #ClimateChange #TransnationalCrime #SecurityChallenges #WomenInLeadership

❓ What is a ‘#peacekeeping army’? ❓Why do some states develop them? ❓What influence do they have on #military organizations, their soldiers and the practices of peacekeeping more broadly? These are the questions that Paul Williams & I address in our new International Affairs article: ▶ "Peacekeeping armies: how the politics of peace operations shape military organizations" We look at: Ratio of Troop contributions Institutional Adaptation of the military Official security documents To define peacekeeping armies & go on to analyze the effects on their military organizations 🌐 https://lnkd.in/ez-KBw7v

Military action is said to be the last step in diplomacy; but has America too often led with its military power? The Middle East is a volatile region that has been that way for decades. For decades the US military has led efforts in that region. To break down the effects of this action, I sat down with retired General Joseph Votel, former commander of US Special Operations Command, US Central Command, Joint Special Operations Command and 75th Ranger Regiment to break down why China and Russia have chosen now to push back on the world order at a greater scale. General Votel also unpacked the reasons why Hamas chose to attack Israel on October 7th, Iran’s malign influence and proxy warfare, and the responsibility of the other Gulf states in preventing regional instability. He explained the opportunities the United States has in the region across the diplomatic, information, military and economic spectrum of national power; including America’s ability to mobilize for a peer-to-peer fight. Plus he talked all things Ranger Regiment, the officer-NCO relationship, and how effective leadership doesn’t require pages of policy, but a drive to get things done. Take a listen, watch, or read our conversation with one the Army’s most respected leaders then head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform to catch up on our entire national security series from Washington, DC and Fort Liberty, NC. Episode 144 is live: https://lnkd.in/enckrg2s #middleeast #diplomacy  #military  #foreignpolicy  #MilitaryLeadership #USMilitary #MiddleEastStrategy #NationalSecurity #ArmyLeadership #MilitaryStrategy #ArmyOperations #DefensePolicy

Read this insightful article about #peacekeeping armies - part of our special section in International Affairs out now: https://lnkd.in/dNJFyTe8

Military action is said to be the last step in diplomacy; but has America too often led with its military power? The Middle East is a volatile region that has been that way for decades. And for decades the US military has led efforts in that region. To break down the effects of this action, Fran Racioppi sat down with retired General Joseph Votel, former commander of US Special Operations Command, US Central Command, Joint Special Operations Command, and 75th Ranger Regiment, to break down why China and Russia have chosen now to push back on the world order at a greater scale. General Votel also unpacked the reasons why Hamas chose to attack Israel on October 7th, Iran’s malign influence and proxy warfare, and the responsibility of the other Gulf states in preventing regional instability. He explained the opportunities the United States has in the region across the diplomatic, information, military and economic spectrum of national power; including America’s ability to mobilize for a peer-to-peer fight. Plus he talked all things Ranger Regiment, the officer-NCO relationship, and how effective leadership doesn’t require pages of policy, but a drive to get things done. Take a listen, watch, or read our conversation with one the Army’s most respected leaders then head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform to catch up on our entire national security series from Washington, DC and Fort Liberty, NC. Episode 144 is live: https://lnkd.in/gkCSW-9Y #middleeast #diplomacy #military #foreignpolicy #MilitaryLeadership #USMilitary #MiddleEastStrategy #NationalSecurity #ArmyLeadership #MilitaryStrategy #ArmyOperations #DefensePolicy The Jedburgh Podcast

Foreign Militaries in Africa - September 24, 2024 | 10:30 am to 11:30 pm |Africa Program - Virtual Registration - About the Event According to General Douglas MacArthur, ‘old soldiers never die, they just fade away.’ That axiom, however, doesn’t seem to apply to foreign military and paramilitary organizations such as Russia’s Africa Corps (a reinvention of the Wagner Group) and Chinese military advisors who are appearing on the African continent in increasing numbers. Supposedly there to assist African governments deal with #insurgencies and #extremist movements, they often are the cause of further instability and deteriorating #security, and are propping up #autocratic and military regimes.  This not only has a devastating impact on security and #development of African countries, but is potentially threatening to US security interests. FPRI’s Africa Program Chair Ambassador (ret) Charles Ray, 2024 Templeton Fellow Raphael Parens and Paul Nantulya of the US National Defense University discuss the evolution and impact of #foreignmilitaries in #Africa and the implications for US policy on the continent. #ssr Randolph Wallace Rhea (PhD) Sofiène Bacha

Last week our colleagues from the Dutch Embassy in Nairobi, hosted the International Military Cooperation Regional Conference week for the Africa team of the Dutch Ministry of Defense.   This significant gathering brought together policymakers and implementers focused on international military cooperation, specifically in Africa. The aim was to discuss and solidify the Africa Strategy, working towards a comprehensive policy framework.   The conference featured insightful speakers and organized sessions that played a crucial role in shaping our defense perspective, elucidating broader Dutch interests in the region, and aligning with key stakeholders such as the International Peace. Additionally, strategic networking moments facilitated meaningful dialogue, involving Dutch-oriented companies in the region.   The conference was a resounding success, and the valuable outcomes will soon be translated into a policy framework in the upcoming period.   #KDF #IPSTC #BPST #EASF #tbt #throwbackthursday #Crisisgroup #CenterHumDialogue #militarycooperation #ims #imc #defense #defence #military #Africa #africastrategy Rene Marchal Nils Rienks Roan Dijkstra Ebru F. Uçan Desalegn Tesfaye Gerret de Man Ministerie van Defensie Public Affairs IPSTC International Crisis Group

The NG is vital in enabling integrated deterrence... "to strengthen and sustain deterrence, prioritizing interoperability and enabling coalitions with enhanced capabilities, new operating concepts, and combined, collaborative force planning... to modernize our nuclear forces, and reinforce our extended deterrence... to improve denial capability, including resilience, particularly for those most exposed to military coercion... we will support regional partners’ ability to respond to regional contingencies, provide strategic indicators and warning, and reduce competitors’ ability to hold key geographic and logistical chokepoints at risk." We're still gaining velocity in strategic deterrence efforts with the assistance of our strong SPP LOEs... Always Ready, Always There. https://lnkd.in/ghABKfPm

I was honored to be back among the NATO family and offer my insights on the conflict in the Middle East during the NATO Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence (CCOE) speaker series. I spoke about the functional aspect of civil-militaty enagement, and the the implications of what is going on in the Middle East on the relationshiop between civilian and military actors. I discussed the role of military to military enagement in human security, the military as a development actor of other militaries, and trust building. What is happening in Gaza is cross cutting, cross operational, cross regional and cross generational. Pulling all the levers of civil-military engagement as a way to mitigate the challenges of the civilian environment should be the rule, not the exception. Thanks to my co-presenters Anthony Wanis-St. John of American University, Karolina MacLachlan of the Center for Civilians in Conflict, and Alexandria Nylen, PhD of Brown University for their excellent remarks. It is always a pleasure to be "back" in the Hague, and with NATO Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence (CCOE) colleagues Kathleen Porath and Ralf Baur. For those who missed the talk, you can find a link to our presentations in the comments. Let's continue to prioritize civil-military engagement as a way to promote peace and stability in the region. #civilmilitaryengagement #militarytomilitaryengagement #stabilization #humansecurity

In discussing "When Rambo Meets the Red Cross" with NATO Veterans Initiative - NAVI's international audience, a participant observed, "In this book, there is something for everybody - from military professionals to sociologists and anthropologists." This is the the cross-cutting nature of civil-military relationships. They can manifest from direct engagement during humanitarian crises in high-intensity conflicts to indirect involvement in bolstering socio-economic resilience and security in fragile states. The interconnectedness of security and socio-economic factors is evident: virtually every aspect of security has direct implications for social and economic realms. Conversely, sustainable social and economic development in any society relies on a robust security sector. Thank you to the NATO Veterans Initiative - NAVI for inviting me to present! The link to the presentation and the book are below: 👇 👇👇👇 #wearenato #webinar #humanrights #civilmilitaryengagement #humansecurity #specialforces #NGOs #irregularwafare Rowman & Littlefield Bloomsbury Academic Alliance for Peacebuilding USAID USAID - Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance USAID - Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) Modern War Institute at West Point InterAction UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency NATO NATO Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence (CCOE) Center for Civilians in Conflict United States Institute of Peace United Nations United Nations OCHA The World Bank The United States Army War College United States Military Academy at West Point United States Marine Corps Naval Postgraduate School Defense Security Cooperation University United States Department of Defense Defense Security Cooperation Agency PKSOI-Peacekeeping & Stability Operations Institute-US Army #CivilMilitaryRelations #HumanitarianCoordination #CIMIC #CMCoord Canadian Defence and Security Network - Réseau Canadien Sur La Défense et la Sécurité (CDSN-RCDS) Joint Special Operations University Amideast Spirit of America #specialoperations #strategiccompetition #partnersandallies USSOCOM Civil Affairs Association Defence Studies Department Department of War Studies #securityforceassistance #securitycooperation #humanitarianaccess #counternarcotics #counterinsurgency #fragilestates