Strategic Environment

Decision Points: 4.12.2026

Navigating geopolitical uncertainty and managing business risk. Executive Summary The past week highlights a shift toward a more fragmented and contested global operating environment, with pressure building across digital,…
7 Seconds to Die: A Military Analysis of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War and the Future of Warfighting

“7 Seconds to Die” by Tristan Abbey is a compelling and deeply insightful military analysis of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. This meticulously researched book provides a detailed examination of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2020, offering invaluable insights into the changing landscape of modern warfare and its implications for future conflicts. Abbey begins…
Decision Points: Strategic Update 4.5.2026

Strategic Context The past week was defined by the expansion of strategic risk around maritime chokepoints. In Panama, a dispute that began over port concessions and sovereignty has widened…
Daring to Struggle: China’s Global Ambitions under Xi Jinping

“Daring to Struggle: China’s Global Ambitions Under Xi Jinping” presents a comprehensive exploration of China’s evolving role on the world stage, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. Authored by a widely recognized China expert, this insightful book sheds light on China’s its strategic motivation, and the challenges it faces as it strives to reshape…
Decision Points: Executive Update 3.30.26

Strategic Context The past week has highlighted how conflict in the Middle East will impact the global system beyond the energy sector. Disruption in the Gulf is beginning to…
Decision Points: Weekly Update – 3.29.26

March 29, 2026 Strategic Context The past week has been shaped by a widening gap between immediate risk and ongoing strategic competition. Escalation concerns around Iran are driving that…
Information Environment: Operate at the Speed of Information

The year is 2028. The 3d Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) has just returned from Operation PACIFIC ENDEAVOR, the US response to the United Nations Security Resolution 3924 condemning the People’s Republic of China’s unlawful annexation of Taiwan. Colonel Ellen Wynn, the commanding officer of the 3d MLR, is relaying lessons learned from this operation to…
All the Kremlin’s Men

Mikhail Zygar’s “All the Kremlin’s Men: Inside the Court of Vladimir Putin” offers a rare and insightful view into the inner workings of the Kremlin, providing readers with a…
The Sickle and the Trident

The modern conflict between Ukraine and Russia is steeped in history. In many ways, the two nations are fighting over an origin story. To the Ukrainians, they are proud descendants of the Kievan Rus nation that started in Ukraine. Russia, on the other hand, considers Ukraine to be a rebellious province that is masquerading as…
Putin’s Kleptocracy: Who Owns Russia

If you use this link to purchase this book, Amazon will donate a portion of the proceeds to Key Terrain Cyber. Karen Dawisha, a distinguished political scientist, provides an…