Russia and Belarus have launched a large-scale joint military exercise, Zapad-2025, along NATO’s borders, raising concerns in the West at a time of heightened tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war. According to Russia’s defence ministry, the drills will take place across both countries as well as in the Baltic and Barents seas. The exercise, planned long before this week’s drone incident in Poland, is designed to enhance coordination, command skills, and field training among regional and coalition forces.

In its first phase, the drills will simulate the defence of Russia and Belarus, which together form the Union State. The second stage will focus on restoring territorial integrity and defeating the enemy, with the support of allied forces from partner nations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that the exercises, including those held near Poland, are “not aimed against any other country.” However, NATO members remain on alert after Poland, with allied backing, shot down suspected Russian drones that entered its airspace just two days earlier — an incident Moscow denies. Russia’s Defence Ministry acknowledged drone strikes in western Ukraine but insisted no Polish targets were intended.

The incident has been viewed in the West as a deliberate provocation and a test of NATO’s readiness. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the drones’ entry into Poland may have been a mistake, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the drills as “very aggressive,” announcing the closure of Poland’s border with Belarus. Belarus also borders NATO members Lithuania and Latvia, both of which have reinforced border security in response to the exercise. With Zapad-2025 underway, the region faces a new flashpoint that underscores the fragile balance between military preparedness and the risk of escalation.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, "I have snatched the morsel from your mouth, but your turn will come," after ordering the Indian Navy to hold back from a planned BrahMos missile strike on Karachi port during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. This statement came as Modi reviewed the operation with the service chiefs amid rising tensions with Pakistan, praising the Army Chief and Air Chief Marshal for their successful missions. Although the Navy was ready to retaliate with strikes, Modi called off the naval offensive, giving full operational freedom to all service chiefs and preparing for potential Pakistani counterattacks, including missile threats to Gujarat.

Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, was a coordinated military response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. The Indian Air Force bombed terrorist camps and critical military targets inside Pakistan, including fighter jets, radar installations, and airborne early warning aircraft, significantly weakening Pakistan’s air power.

The Indian Army and Air Force targeted several key airbases such as Chaklala, Rawalpindi, and Jacobabad, destroying F-16 fighter jets. Indian air defense systems like the Akash missile and S-400 intercepted nearly 99% of incoming Pakistani drones and missiles. The conflict featured cross-border fighting with jets, missiles, and artillery from May 7 to May 10. Pakistan launched multiple drone and missile attacks on northern and western Indian military positions, but India’s integrated air defenses largely neutralized them. A ceasefire was agreed upon on May 10 after Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations requested it, and India accepted, having achieved its objectives.

During Modi’s review on May 10, the Navy, with 30-35 ships ready to strike Karachi and other strategic targets, was called off at the last minute. Modi’s message to the Navy Chief symbolized a strategic pause—while naval strikes were postponed, the opportunity would come in the future. This reflected a carefully measured decision amid a complex military and diplomatic situation. PM Modi’s words acknowledged the Navy’s preparedness and promised eventual action, while Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s integrated use of Army, Air Force, and Navy forces in a decisive response to terrorism and Pakistani aggression.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.

The U.S. Army is moving to speed up negotiations over a crucial training ground in Hawaii, underscoring its growing importance in the broader Indo-Pacific defense strategy. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll revealed earlier this week that he is eager to finalize a long-term lease agreement for the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on the Big Island — a site that plays a pivotal role in training American ground forces for potential conflict in the Pacific. Driscoll met with Hawaii Governor Josh Green on Monday to discuss the future of the Pohakuloa site, where the U.S. military currently leases a significant portion of land from the state. That lease is set to expire in 2029, and although that may seem distant, the Army is pushing for urgency. With China ramping up its military posture in the region — particularly around Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as part of its territory — the Pentagon sees Hawaii as a critical launch point for rapid deployments. Securing uninterrupted access to Pohakuloa ensures that soldiers in Hawaii remain combat-ready and close to potential conflict zones in Asia andU.S. Army Pushes to Secure Key Hawaii Training Ground Amid Growing Indo-Pacific Tensions

As geopolitical tensions rise across the Indo-Pacific, particularly over China’s claims to Taiwan, the U.S. Army is taking steps to secure one of its most strategic training sites: the Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii’s Big Island. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll announced this week that he’s looking to accelerate negotiations with the state of Hawaii to renew the military’s lease on the site — a lease that is currently set to expire in 2029. Driscoll met with Hawaii Governor Josh Green on Monday to discuss Pohakuloa’s future. While there are still four years left on the current lease, Driscoll stressed that the military cannot afford delays when it comes to strategic readiness in the Indo-Pacific. As security challenges intensify, having access to a large-scale, permanent live-fire training facility in the region is viewed as vital for maintaining U.S. military preparedness and rapid response capability.

Pohakuloa Training Area is the only facility of its kind in Hawaii where ground forces can conduct realistic, live-fire combat simulations. Spread across more than 133,000 acres of high-elevation terrain between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, the rugged landscape provides essential conditions for replicating real-world combat scenarios. For military leaders, the site’s role is clear: it allows Hawaii-based units to stay sharp and deploy quickly if tensions in Asia boil over.

However, not everyone in the Islands shares the military’s sense of urgency — or its priorities. At a lengthy public hearing in May, a wide range of residents voiced strong opposition to extending the Army’s use of the training grounds. Many Native Hawaiians and environmental advocates expressed outrage over the military’s history of environmental damage and disregard for sacred land. They cited previous fuel leaks, unexploded ordnance, and the desecration of cultural sites as reasons why the lease should not be renewed at all. The central demand: return the land to the state and restore stewardship to the local community.

For many in Hawaii, the conflict goes far deeper than military strategy. It touches on questions of sovereignty, cultural preservation, and environmental protection. The military has long held a dominant presence in the islands, and for some, the lease debate at Pohakuloa is just the latest chapter in a broader story of occupation and loss. Driscoll acknowledged those concerns but emphasized that the Army is working to become a better steward of the land. He said his team is committed to open dialogue with the public and local leaders, and noted that future operations would prioritize transparency, environmental safeguards, and community engagement.

Still, critics remain skeptical, and the road to lease renewal is likely to be a bumpy one. With local activism growing and public scrutiny intensifying, the Army will need to do more than make promises — it will have to rebuild trust in a population that’s increasingly questioning the long-term costs of hosting the U.S. military. The debate over Pohakuloa is part of a larger conversation about America’s footprint in the Pacific. As Washington doubles down on preparing for potential flashpoints — from Taiwan to the South China Sea — Hawaii finds itself caught between two worlds: a strategic stronghold for global power projection and a homeland with unresolved histories of colonization and resistance.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from AP.

Pakistan’s military leader, Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir, firmly rejected suggestions that the country received “external support” during its recent military engagement with India, emphasizing that the conflict was “purely bilateral.” His comments followed remarks by Indian Deputy Army Chief Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh, who had alleged that China provided Pakistan with real-time intelligence during the four-day missile exchange in May.

Speaking to officers at the National Security and War Course at the National Defense University in Islamabad, Gen. Munir labeled such allegations as “irresponsible and factually incorrect,” according to a statement by the military's media wing. He added that these claims reflect a persistent unwillingness to recognize Pakistan’s own military capabilities and the institutional strength it has developed over years of strategic discipline.

Lt. Gen. Singh had claimed that India faced two adversaries during the clash—Pakistan and China—suggesting that while Pakistan was on the frontlines, China offered comprehensive support. The conflict ended through a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Gen. Munir dismissed these claims, stating India’s failure to meet its military goals during “Operation Sindoor” led to a post-conflict narrative designed to deflect blame. He criticized India’s attempts to portray the conflict as part of broader geopolitical rivalry, calling it a tactic to maintain its role as a supposed regional security provider, despite rising concerns over its “hegemonic and extremist Hindutva ideology.”

He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to diplomacy grounded in mutual respect and regional stability, and warned that any future aggression targeting Pakistan’s territory or strategic assets would be met with an immediate and decisive response. Any attacks on civilian areas, military sites, economic centers, or ports, he stated, would provoke a response that would be “deeply hurting and more than reciprocal.” India has not officially responded to Munir’s statements.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from AFP.

On September 3, China held its largest military parade to date in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event featured tens of thousands of soldiers, along with hundreds of aircraft, ground vehicles, and advanced weaponry. More than just a show of military might, the parade was intended as a symbol of deterrence, national solidarity, and a display of Xi Jinping’s authority in a period of global uncertainty. Andrea Heng discussed the significance of the event with Dr. Mustafa Izzuddin, Senior International Affairs Analyst at Solaris.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

On May 18, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that Israel would relax its blockade to allow limited food supplies into Gaza, following the military’s declaration of “extensive ground operations” in both the northern and southern regions of the enclave. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman provide the latest updates from Stephen Zunes, Professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

India's military operations chief is set to meet with his Pakistani counterpart to discuss the next steps following the ceasefire. After some initial violations, there were no reports of explosions or projectiles overnight. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman provide the latest update with insights from Dr. Christopher Snedden, a political scientist and author.
Disclaimer: This Video is taken from CNA.