National Security Archives - Robert Lansing Institute

Putin’s and Kim Jong Un’s Biological Secrecy During Foreign Visits

During his rare trip to China in 2018, security protocols reportedly included the use of portable toilets brought from Pyongyang. Similar measures were in place under his father, the late Kim Jong Il. This…

September 5, 2025DPRK, Putin, Russia

Intelligence ops National Security Propaganda and Disinformation

SVR Director’s Attack on riedrich Merz: Why the Kremlin Reached for the “Nazi” Label

Russia’s foreign-intelligence chief, Sergey Naryshkin, amplified the Kremlin’s long-running trope that today’s European leaders are steered by “Nazi” ideas—this time aiming the charge at German Chancellor riedrich Merz. The timing and…

September 4, 2025Germany, Naryshkin, Russia, SVR, USA

National Security Warfare

From Consoles to Combat: Russia’s Gamble on Gamer Armies and Accelerated Militarization”

Russia is accelerating the militarization of its society, with plans to increase the proportion of young people in the armed forces. According to our information, the Kremlin intends to form…

September 3, 2025Russia

Conflict Geopolitics National Security

“Always Ready for War”: What Aliyev Meant—and What Comes Next

1) The trigger: Aliyev’s August message On Aug. 21, 2025, President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan “must always be ready for war,” touting expanded special forces, new commando units, upgraded aircraft and fresh fighter-jet…

August 29, 2025Azerbaijan, Russia

Democracy Intelligence ops National Security

The Politicization of U.S. Intelligence: History, Causes, and Implications

The removal of a senior CIA officer by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI), alongside the revocation of classified access for 36 current and former officers, highlights a longstanding…

August 22, 2025CIA, DNI, Russia, USA

Conflict National Security

Russia Circumvents Sanctions Through Chinese Marketplaces

Despite sweeping international sanctions, Russia continues to secure critical equipment for its defense industry by exploiting alternative supply channels. A growing share of this trade flows through Chinese e-commerce platforms,…

August 20, 2025China, Russia, Sanctions

Intelligence ops migration National Security Psyops

Increased Libya → Belarus Flights: Analysis of Causes, Actors, Timing, and Risks

Since early–mid 2025 authorities and analysts have flagged an unexpected rise in air traffic linking eastern Libya (notably Benghazi) and Minsk. European institutions are alarmed because the pattern resembles earlier…

August 12, 2025Belarus, Libya, Russia

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 National Security

Borderline Politics: Russian-Linked Actors in Finland and the Campaign to Reopen the Finnish–Russian Border

A small but vocal group of politicians and public figures in Finland, some with Russian citizenship or familial ties to Russia, are actively pushing for the reopening of the Finnish-Russian…

July 25, 2025Finland, NATO, Russia

Geopolitics Intelligence ops National Security

Rising Russian Espionage Activity in Germany: Timing, Tactics, and Threats

Russia has sharply intensified its espionage activity in Germany since 2022. This escalation reflects shifts in Moscow's intelligence priorities amid the war in Ukraine, worsening relations with the West, and…

July 22, 2025Germany, Russia

National Security