ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

A Japan Air-Self Defense Force Boeing E-767 Airborne Warning and Control System is able to monitor the skies above the East China Sea. (Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images) Summary As China and Japan continue to patrol and monitor their declared air defense identification zones in the East China Sea, both countries are trying to enhance their situational awareness in the disputed region by bolstering their airborne early warning and control capabilities. Although Japan has historically had more advanced airborne early warning and control systems, China is quickly catching up. In theory, improved capabilities would benefit both countries as they compete with one another other for primacy in these contested waters. Analysis Airborne early warning and control systems are critical tools for monitoring expansive airspace. Compared to ground-based and naval radars, early warning and control aircraft can much more rapidly deploy to a contested zone and can generally track and identify sea-skimmin...

Summary Editor's Note: This is the first of a three-part series about Russia's intensifying focus on East Asia. Part 1 examines Russia's traditional interests in the region and its closer relationship with Vietnam. Recent challenges in exporting energy to Europe have made an orientation toward Asia more desirable for Moscow. Russia's economy depends on hydrocarbon exports, and while Western Europe is attempting to become less dependent on Russia by seeking new energy sources, Asian markets have large and indiscriminate appetites for energy. Although Russia's focus in Asia traditionally has been on China, Japan and South Korea, it also has ties to Southeast Asia, which remains a strategically significant -- though not absolutely essential -- area for Moscow's efforts to extend its influence and energy exports eastward. Notably, Moscow recently struck a spate of energy and defense deals with Hanoi in an effort to strengthen their relationship, open up new markets...

Pump jacks in the Kurdish town of Derik, on the border with Turkey and Iraq, Nov. 25. (ACHILLEAS ZAVALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) Summary The prospect of revitalized oil production in Iraq and Iran may add to tensions between those two countries and Saudi Arabia over export quotas. On Dec. 4, representatives of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will meet in Vienna to discuss a number of topics. OPEC is facing two challenges. First, OPEC's historically biggest consumer -- the United States -- is rapidly increasing its own domestic production. At the same time, OPEC must deal with plans to expand oil production envisioned both by Iraq and Iran, which could lead to lower prices than the cartel desires. Ultimately, however, emerging markets in Asia will set global demand, and their energy thirst will determine the scale of the problem OPEC faces. Analysis OPEC was organized in the early 1960s by Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Venezuela with the primary goal ...

Israeli Environmental Affairs Minister Amir Peretz (R) attends a meeting in Istanbul on Dec. 5. (OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images) Summary With the U.S.-Iranian rapprochement and a sectarian conflict brewing to its north in Syria, Israel will likely work closely with Turkey and Saudi Arabia in an attempt to secure its interests. Given that Israel has not normalized relations with Saudi Arabia, that track will probably be pursued behind the scenes. However, Israel can work much more robustly with Turkey, despite the rupture in relations since the 2010 flotilla incident. For its part, Turkish regional interests have been set back by the rise of jihadism in Syria and the eclipse of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt -- events that have forced Ankara to adjust its attitude toward Israel. Analysis On Dec. 5, Israeli Environmental Affairs Minister Amir Peretz became the first Cabinet member to visit Turkey since bilateral relations took a plunge after the flotilla incident that left nine Turkish na...

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni (C) arrives at Munyonyo resort Hotel in Kampala on Nov. 30, to attend the 15th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State. (ISAAC KASAMANI/AFP/Getty Images) Summary Kenya is positioning itself to become the dominant power in the emerging East African Community, which includes Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi in addition to Kenya itself. On Nov. 30, the heads of state of the five member countries signed a monetary union protocol, the third of four steps that could lead to a politically unified East African Federation. As a regional export and financial hub, Kenya has been fundamental to this process. However, Nairobi wants to reinforce its position as a gateway into East Africa and wield greater political power within the community -- and ultimately, the federation. Analysis For the East African Community, a common currency makes sense, especially for Uganda and Kenya. Both countries are net importers, but there is an imbalan...

French President Francois Hollande addresses the Franco-African Economic Conference in Paris on Dec. 4. (ERIC PIERMONT/AFP/Getty Images) Summary France wants to remain an influential player in Africa, particularly among its former colonies, but its wishes may surpass its ability. Speaking at the Franco-African economic forum on Dec. 4, French President Francois Hollande said he wants to double trade with Africa within five years. According to the president, such a deal could create some 200,000 jobs in France. However, Hollande's announcement takes place at a time when French exports are losing ground in Africa as a result of decreased competitiveness at market and increased presence from other players, most notably China. France may keep some of its political and economic prominence in Francophone Africa, where it can offer some of what its former colonies need -- namely, security and investment -- but its economic problems may prevent it from exerting its power across the contin...

Lt. Gen. Liu Shou-Jen of the Taiwanese Air Force introduces a map of the contested air space above the East China Sea during a press conference in Taipei on Dec. 2. (Mandy Cheng/AFP/Getty Images) Summary U.S. Vice President Joe Biden returned from South Korea on Dec. 7, having also visited Japan and China during a week of diplomatic upkeep. Biden's trip was planned before China's Nov. 23 declaration of an air defense identification zone , or ADIZ, in the East China Sea, but the controversy over Beijing's move, while not the only topic discussed, dominated the vice president's trip. In Japan, Biden and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attempted to show a unified position over China's new zone, which overlaps with Japan's own air zone and, in particular, the Japanese-controlled Senkaku/Diaoyu islands, over which China claims sovereignty. The two leaders pledged to reject unilateral attempts by China to change the status quo in the region and agreed to oppose any threats...

The MB's third Amazonas-class OPV, Araguari, was delivered from builders BAE Systems on 21 June. Source: IHS/Alex Pape Key Points A funding crunch has generated questions about the future of PROSUPER's frigate element and other large procurements Some notable acquisitions for the MB are nonetheless moving forward The Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brazil - MB), despite budget constraints, has maintained some comprehensive investments intended to considerably improve its fleet power through acquisitions of ships, helicopters, missiles, armour, and other hardware. Along with safeguarding Brazil's natural resources and 3.5 million km 2 of maritime domain, the naval service is also working to expand its regional influence and become a more active player internationally - a position the government views as fitting for the world's sixth-largest economy. Accordingly, the navy implemented the PAEMB (Plano de Articulação e Equipamentos da Marinha do Brasil) modernisation effort as ...