Armand Chouet at Robert Lansing Institute

Cameroon’s Flag Registry and Russia’s Shadow Fleet: Why Moscow Turned to West Africa to Evade Sanctions

Cameroon's decision to deregister vessels linked to Russia's shadow fleet represents one of the most significant attempts by an African state to limit the exploitation of its maritime registry for…

July 3, 2026Cameroon, Russia, shadow fleet

Geopolitics Governance National Security

France’s “Exit from NATO” Debate (2026): Political Signal or Strategic Break?

In January 2026, parts of the French opposition reignited a familiar theme in French strategic culture: “strategic autonomy” and skepticism toward NATO as a US-led security architecture. The immediate catalyst has been…

January 13, 2026France, NATO

Intelligence ops National Security

Russia’s Intelligence Infrastructure in Mexico:

A Strategic Challenge to U.S. National Security and Hemispheric Stability Over the past decade, Mexico has become one of the most strategically important operational hubs for Russian intelligence in the…

December 9, 2025Mexico, Russia, USA

Coup

breaking: Benin at the Frontline of the Sahel Coup Wave: Anatomy of a Failed Military Takeover

Early morning 7 December 2025: A group of at least eight soldiers seized Benin’s state TV (BTV) in Cotonou and announced that they had removed President Patrice Talon, dissolved all state…

December 7, 2025Benin

Conflict Warfare

GPS Jamming on Ursula von der Leyen’s Flight: Assassination Attempt—or A2/AD Signaling?

What happened (the verified core) The European Commission confirmed that the GPS on President Ursula von der Leyen’s aircraft was jammedas it approached Plovdiv, Bulgaria, forcing crews to rely on “paper maps”…

September 2, 2025EU, GRU, Russia

Democracy Geopolitics

Handshake in Alaska: How Trump Gave Putin a Victory at America’s Expense

The meeting between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin in Alaska on August 15 ended in colossal reputational losses for the United States, the result of misjudgment and overconfidence…

August 16, 2025Russia, Ukraine, USA

Geopolitics National Security

Russia’s Withdrawal from the INF Treaty: Escalation, Threats, and the U.S. Response

On August 4, 2025, the Russian Federation announced the termination of its unilateral moratorium on deploying ground-launched intermediate-range (1,000–5,500 km) and shorter-range (500–1,000 km) missiles. This marks a significant escalation in…

August 5, 2025INF Treaty, NATO, Russia, USA

Governance Intelligence ops

Alleged Coup Planning Within Russia’s General Staff

Recent unverified claims from Russian sources suggest that certain officers within Russia’s General Staff are allegedly considering a coup-style operation, fearing repression or purges if the war in Ukraine ends…

July 29, 2025Russia

Corruption National Security Situation Reports Terrorism

Wagner Group Atrocities in the Central African Republic — Motives, Parallels, and Risks of Regional Backlash

The killing of local civilians by the Russian Wagner Group near a gold mine in the Central African Republic (CAR) has reignited international scrutiny over Moscow’s extractive activities in Africa.…

July 21, 2025CAR, gold, Russia, Wagner Group

Geopolitics Intelligence ops

Bear Meets Dragon: The Escalating Espionage Rivalry Between Russia and China

Despite their strategic “no limits” partnership, intelligence leaks show deep mistrust between Moscow and Beijing. A recent New York Times–cited report revealed internal Russian warnings that Chinese intelligence is actively targeting…

June 9, 2025China, Russia

Posts by Armand Chouet