Warfare Archives - Robert Lansing Institute

North Korea’s Open Entry into Russia’s War Against Ukraine: From Covert Support to Combat Participation

North Korea’s public acknowledgment of troop deployment to Russia marks a qualitative escalation in its involvement in Moscow’s war against Ukraine. This shift exposes the DPRK not as a principled anti-imperialist actor,…

December 17, 2025DPRK, Russia, USA

Geopolitics National Security Warfare

From Tehran to the Frontlines: Russia’s Expanding Global Recruitment Campaign for the War in Ukraine

In December 2025, reports emerged that Russia has begun a large-scale campaign to recruit Iranian citizens to fight in its war against Ukraine. Throughout multiple cities in the Islamic Republic…

December 12, 2025Iran, Russia, Ukraine

Warfare

Elite Glass for Elite Killers: How Austria’s Premium Optics End Up in Russia’s War Against Ukraine

The Austrian manufacturer of premium optical devices Swarovski Optik, continues to supply optical sights for sniper rifles to Russia. Deliveries continue despite the war in Ukraine and Austria’s policy of “permanent…

November 19, 2025Austria, Russia, Sanctions

Conflict Intelligence ops National Security Warfare

Venezuela’s Asymmetric Shield: How Moscow Plans to Bleed a U.S. Invasion

The Venezuelan military has developed a plan to resist a U.S. operation against their country in the event the White House orders an invasion. The Venezuelan plan envisages guerrilla warfare…

November 12, 2025Russia, Venezuela, Wagner Group

National Security Nonproliferation Warfare

Russian vs. U.S. Statements on Nuclear Testing: Motives, Legal Fallout, Third-Party Positions, and Escalation Risks

Divergence in posture: Washington has kept to a zero-yield moratorium since 1992 while expanding subcritical(non-explosive) experiments to steward the stockpile; Moscow de-ratified the CTBT in 2023 and, after new U.S. political signals this week, has ordered proposals on…

November 6, 2025China, nuclear weapons, Russia, USA

Conflict Estimates National Security Warfare

Russian Air-Defense Deliveries to Venezuela and the Escalation Risk of U.S.–Venezuela Military Conflict

Russian deployment of new air-defense systems to Venezuela—including Pantsir-S1 and Buk-M2E batteries to reinforce the existing S-300VM (Antey-2500)—has altered the regional security calculus. The systems strengthen Caracas’ deterrence posture yet simultaneously raise miscalculation risks with the United States, which…

November 5, 2025USA, Venezuela

migration Warfare

Indicator of Escalation: Belarus Tests EU Defenses With Coordinated Hybrid Actions

On 2 November 2025, information was published that in October Lithuania recorded the highest number in the past six months of attempted illegal crossings from Belarusian territory—275. Nearly half of…

November 3, 2025Belarus, EU, Russia

Conflict Geopolitics ideology Warfare

Poseidon and the Politics of Fear: Russia’s New Deterrence Doctrine”

Russia is increasingly turning its nuclear tests into a political weapon of pressure against the United States." Russia’s Poseidon (NATO: Kanyon) is an ambitious nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicle – essentially a gigantic autonomous…

October 30, 2025Russia, USA

- Conflict Warfare

Hybrid War at the Border: Russia’s Covert Assault on Latvian Sovereignty

Latvia stands on the front line of NATO’s contest with Russian hybrid warfare. The threat is pervasive and evolving: cyber attacks, propaganda, subterfuge, and covert saboteurs can be as damaging in…

October 28, 2025Latvia, Russia

Conflict Geopolitics Terrorism Warfare

Afghanistan–Pakistan Border Clashes, 2025

Intense fighting along the long‐contested Afghanistan–Pakistan frontier broke out in October 2025, marking the worst conflict between the two countries since the Taliban takeover in 2021. Islamabad accused Kabul of…

October 20, 2025Afghanistan, Pakistan