Strategic Comments

Gas finds complicate eastern Mediterranean security

The discovery of natural gas has complicated rivalries in the eastern Mediterranean, an area already full of long-standing security issues. Among those to have issued assertive statements of intent regarding undersea gas finds are Greece and Turkey, Cyprus and the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as well as Israel, the Lebanese militia group Hizbullah and Palestine's Hamas.

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Growing tensions in the East China Sea

Continuing tensions between China and Japan over the sovereignty of the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands have fuelled international speculation that the two countries could be drawn into a military confrontation.

Growing tensions in the East China Sea

Continuing tensions over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands have fuelled speculation that China and Japan could be drawn into a military confrontation.

Philippine legal move stirs South China Sea disputes

Manila's recent attempt to invite legal scrutiny of China's territorial claims in the South China Sea has divided regional opinion.

Redesigned British Army: smaller, with more reserves

Government decisions to reduce the defence budget and lower strategic ambitions have prompted the British Army to undertake its most radical reorganisation for 50 years.

Syria crisis highlights importance of Chemical Weapons Convention

The crisis in Syria has underlined the importance of efforts to destroy stockpiles.

Pakistan's Afghan epiphany

Has Pakistan really shifted its policy towards neighbouring Afghanistan and, if so, what lies behind the change?

Libya: fragile security, fragmented politics

Libya's development prospects are being hampered by militia violence, a moribund economy and a fragmented government.

Kuwait's deepening political turmoil

An 18-month long power struggle between Kuwaiti government and opposition factions threatens the country's relatively open political system.

Peace talks in eastern DRC face uncertain outcome

Peace negotiations between the March 23 rebel movement and the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been under way for three months. Their success is likely to depend on the commitment of the international community, particularly the government of Rwanda, to ending over two decades of regional conflict.

Gas finds complicate eastern Mediterranean security

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Growing tensions in the East China Sea

Contents

Growing tensions in the East China Sea

Philippine legal move stirs South China Sea disputes

Redesigned British Army: smaller, with more reserves

Syria crisis highlights importance of Chemical Weapons Convention

Pakistan's Afghan epiphany

Libya: fragile security, fragmented politics

Kuwait's deepening political turmoil

Peace talks in eastern DRC face uncertain outcome

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