Posts From Ian Armstrong
Looking ahead on the soaring U.S. defense industry
The U.S. defense industry is performing notably well in 2016, exceeding both the historical trend of the past five years and already upbeat forecasts.
Why North Korea’s failed missile launches matter
North Korea’s failed missile tests underscore its growing military capabilities and highlight potential short-term instability in the region.
East Asian plutonium policies risk regional stability
Major countries in East Asia are either considering or already engaging in reprocessing spent fuel from nuclear power plants—a procedure that builds vulnerable stockpiles of plutonium. Intentions notwithstanding, the policies present serious nuclear and radiological risks.
The result of the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit
The 2016 Nuclear Security Summit achieved new international commitments that will improve the nuclear risk outlook for coming years. It also leaves clear security gaps that hamper the progress made
Algeria’s energy outlook for 2016: Do security risks trump investment opportunities?
Algeria’s state-owned hydrocarbon firm has endured recent policy adjustments that now provide foreign investors with new opportunities. But increasing energy insecurity threatens to nullify the potential for gain. In the
Nursultan Nazarbayev: bettering business in a rough economy
A GRI Power Brokers feature on President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan shows great promise in its positive economic impact, in large part due to the leadership and strategy of
Assessing the risk of an ISIS “dirty bomb”
ISIS’ potential acquisition of radioactive material generates a potential scenario in which the Sunni extremist group may try to produce and use a “dirty bomb”. Over the past two weeks,
Forecasting China’s nuclear industry growth in 2016
Despite appearing poised to miss key nuclear industry goals throughout the majority of 2015, a late-December push from Beijing towards significant expansion suggests that China’s nuclear industry is positioned for notable
Will North Korea’s latest rocket launch result in tougher sanctions?
North Korea’s February 7th launch of a satellite-equipped rocket may appear to be just another chapter in the series of antagonistic taken by the rogue regime in recent months —
Russia’s long-game in Antarctica runs political risk
Recent signals out of Moscow suggest the increasing consideration of Antarctica in Russia’s broader strategic vision, a destabilizing trend that risks triggering militarized competition among resource-seeking nations in a thus
