Read more about the article Operation Midnight Hammer: Tactical Triumph or Strategic Illusion?
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Operation Midnight Hammer: Tactical Triumph or Strategic Illusion?

Operation Midnight Hammer unfolded during the night of June 21 and 22, 2025, as the United States launched a coordinated strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. The operation involved more than 125 aircraft, including seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, and has been described as the largest and longest B-2 mission since the war in Afghanistan began in 2001 (D’Urso, 2025). According to General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the operation required “months of positioning and preparation” (U.S. Department of Defense, 2025, para. 3), moving “from strategic planning to global execution” within weeks (U.S. Department of Defense, 2025, para. 12). Deception played a critical role to preserve the element of surprise. Just hours before the strike, two additional B-2 bombers were dispatched westward toward Guam, serving as decoys (Holliday, 2025a). Their movements, including staged refuelling stops in Oklahoma, California, and Hawaii, were intended to draw attention away from the real strike package (Holliday, 2025b).

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2 July 2025
Read more about the article A Cor Cinniúnach? Ireland’s Defence Policy since 2022
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A Cor Cinniúnach? Ireland’s Defence Policy since 2022

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the strategic position of many European governments has undergone a dramatic reorganisation, encapsulated by then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Zeitenwende address to the Bundestag three days after the invasion. Although far less prominent in this sea of change, similar debates on the country’s defensive future in this new European security environment also occured in Ireland. This study will examine if the changes proposed or implemented in Ireland’s defence and security policies since Russia’s invasion represent a real shift in the Republic’s defence policy -an Irish Zeitenwende or Cor Cinniúnach- or if this is a case of rhetoric overshadowing action. The paper will analyse the shift in the Irish security landscape both domestically and in the country’s international relations, from the invasion to the present, taking into account the release of the new Programme for Government following the general election in 2024, as well as the potential impact of future changes in the country’s internal politics and relations with Northern Ireland.

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8 May 2025
Read more about the article A Legal Analysis of Space Debris I: The Kessler Syndrome and the Regulation of Space in International Law
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A Legal Analysis of Space Debris I: The Kessler Syndrome and the Regulation of Space in International Law

The evolution of industrial models applied to space technologies has opened the door to space exploration and activities for smaller states and private actors. This proliferation of actors and the access to launching objects into Earth’s orbit has multiplied the amount of functional and non-functional objects in space, increasing the amount of space debris and the risk of triggering the Kessler Syndrome. This paper is the first of a series of articles analysing this challenge from a legal perspective. In this first part, the purpose is to frame the space debris threat and analyse the regulation of space in International Law.

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27 March 2025
Read more about the article The Crescent and The Star: A Turkish Option for the European Defence
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The Crescent and The Star: A Turkish Option for the European Defence

This paper examines the evolving role of Türkiye’s military-industrial complex within the European security framework in light of shifting global power dynamics and the growing strategic autonomy debates within the European Union. As the United States retreats into isolationist policies, echoed by the Trump administration's stance on Ukraine, Europe increasingly seeks alternative and critical partnerships to bolster its defense capabilities. Türkiye, with its rapidly expanding indigenous defense industry and proven operational successes in previous conflicts such as Karabakh and Syria, emerges as a pivotal albeit complex partner for Europe. The study analyses Türkiye’s key defense platforms, including UAVs, naval assets like TCG Anadolu and PİRİREİS, and its collaboration with European companies such as Leonardo. It also evaluates the strategic opportunities and political risks involved in deepening military cooperation between Türkiye and the EU. The paper concludes by offering policy recommendations to balance pragmatic defense collaboration with broader geopolitical considerations.

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26 March 2025
Read more about the article TCG Anadolu: The Dawn of Drone-Centric Naval Power Projection
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TCG Anadolu: The Dawn of Drone-Centric Naval Power Projection

This paper examines the strategic transformation embodied by Türkiye’s drone-centric naval platform TCG Anadolu, reconfigured from an amphibious assault ship—in response to geopolitical shifts and drone warfare lessons from the war against Ukraine. Following the transitioning from manned aviation to advanced unmanned systems Bayraktar TB3 and Kizilelma, the paper compares global responses to these platforms and evaluates vulnerabilities in conventional aircraft carriers that may encourage navies to adopt drone-centric platforms. The analysis shows that while drone carriers enhance operational flexibility and cost-efficiency for low-intensity missions, their effectiveness depends on future technological advancements. These findings underscore the evolving impact of unmanned systems on naval power projection and modern maritime warfare.

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24 March 2025