The first section of the #OrbisJournal Spring Issue presents three perspectives converging around the relationship between disruptive technologies and political order. In the second section, three commentators connect their concerns expressed in previous issues to the current moment.

Wednesday, May 6 at 12:00 PM EDT: Register for an upcoming in-person event that will discuss what to expect at the long-anticipated Trump-Xi Summit. buff.ly/qO4nl4Y

If you missed yesterday's event reintroducing the #OrbisJournal, learn more about the publication's commentary, podcast, and Spring 2026 issue on our YouTube channel.

Register for tomorrow's event on reintroducing the Orbis Journal of World Affairs. Happening at 12:00 PM EDT.

If you haven't yet, register for our upcoming virtual event on the relaunch of the #OrbisJournal this Thursday, April 23 at 12:00 PM EDT.

"Based on an examination of more than 35 videos released by CENTCOM, US drones helped destroy several elements of the Iranian air defense systems." Check out the full drone analysis by Aaron Stein and Sam Lair.

If you missed our virtual event yesterday, watch the full discussion on our YouTube channel!

My colleagues from @fpri.bsky.social — @salisbot.bsky.social @michaelbpetersen.bsky.social and Frank Hoffman — shared their thoughts on the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz www.fpri.org/article/2026...

Some thoughts from me and distinguished colleagues on the blockade ⬇️ www.fpri.org/article/2026...

Colleagues from @fpri.bsky.social and representatives gathered this weekend in Colorado Springs to discuss the emerging threat environment in space for commercial operators. Was the formal start of our work on this very important topic. Stay tuned for more.

The blockade isn’t actually bad strategy. It’s a dumb war but choking Iranian exports from a distance is …. Fine. There will inevitably be a “political problem” if say China reflags tankers. But that’s a political problem.

Rob Lee and Dmytro Putiata explain how the Russian 2nd Combined Arms Army’s Drone Line is more systematically organized to employ strike uncrewed aerial systems in support of offensive operations instead of having each regiment's assets focus on its own area of responsibility.

Thursday, April 16 at 1:00 PM EDT: Join the FPRI Eurasia Program for a pertinent discussion of the outcome of Hungary's upcoming parliamentary election.

US RoE in Rough Rider and Epic Fury had a lot of similarities. And tighter than is assumed.

The Houthis shot down more MQ-9s than Iran.

Me and my colleague @slair.bsky.social looked at the drone counter-IAD campaign in Iran for @fpri.bsky.social :: The UAV-Enabled Anti-Air Defense Campaign in the Third Gulf War open.substack.com/pub/behindth...

The air defense tactics during Rough Rider and Epic Fury are very similar, if not identical. It is a very inefficient IAD concept, but you do get lucky shots.

End of the road for our season. Rippers

I wrote about the challenges of calculating the cost exchange ratio and why I think the US is winning it in a narrow sense, but the victory is pyrrhic aviationweek.com/defense/budg...

"Rising energy prices are already imposing broad-based costs on households and industry across the Indo-Pacific. Governments have moved to deploy short-term mitigation measures, including targeted financial support to households, fuel tax reductions, subsidies, and price controls."

Check out Emma Salisbury's latest piece for #BehindtheFront on the UK's role in the Hormuz Coalition. buff.ly/WvANg9U

Tomorrow at 10:00 EDT: Register for a timely discussion on Russia's use of lawfare as a tool of coercive signaling in the Arctic.

Check out the new Orbis website.

If you missed our virtual event today, watch the full discussion on YouTube.

Don't miss out on our event tomorrow at 10:30 AM EDT! Register at the link. buff.ly/2eTOWsv.

With Dr. Dixon, we discuss technology as an accelerant for change in the international order ... 3/ open.spotify.com/episode/5XHa...

With Admiral Winnefeld, we discuss his concept not of a "rules-based order" but a "global operating system": 2/ open.spotify.com/episode/0TCa...

As part of the #Orbis relaunch we've also created a companion podcast, #ShiftingGround ... first two episodes have dropped (with Dr. Stacey Dixon and Admiral James "Sandy" Winnefeld .. 1/

As part of the #Orbis relaunch happy to announce a companion podcast, #ShiftingGround ... with cohost Larry Rubin ... open.spotify.com/show/6zWjuaK...

"Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s ability to manage relations with the United States without sacrificing her country’s own national interests was closely watched by other US allies in the Indo-Pacific and in Europe." Three FPRI experts provide insights into the meeting.

Our experts @fpri.bsky.social's reaction to the US-Japan summit and the future of the alliance: www.fpri.org/article/2026...

Emma Salisbury, Michael B. Petersen, and Frank G. Hoffman provide timely expert insight into the risks the US Navy could face in a potential operation as the Iran war drags into its fourth week.

We @fpri.bsky.social published insights from @salisbot.bsky.social @michaelbpetersen.bsky.social and Frank Hoffman about the challenges ahead for the US Navy as it considers how to take control of the Strait of Hormuz www.fpri.org/article/2026...

📖Book Talk tomorrow at 12:00 EDT: Join Professor Stephen G. Brooks, a leading scholar of US foreign policy for a discussion on his new book "Command of Commerce: America’s Enduring Economic Power Advantage over China" (co-authored with Ben A. Vagle).

The original tanker escort mission envisioned 6 escorts, connected via AWACS in KSA, and with the Carrier positioned in the Gulf of Oman. The escort would be for 600 miles. There was no coalition. Not sure why there would be one today.

Don't miss out on our next event on March 18th, 12:00 EDT: a discussion on "Command of Commerce" with Stephen G. Brooks.

Over 5,000 Munitions Shot in the First 96 Hours of the Iran War open.substack.com/pub/behindth...

🧵 Our experts provide commentary on the Third Gulf War. buff.ly/ZkI5ULl Aaron Stein: An often overlooked issue is deconfliction. Put simply: there is a lot of metal flying in the air, the US and Israel fly the same airframes, and that can lead to unintended outcomes.

In case you missed the event, watch the recent discussion about Europe's nuclear future on our YouTube page.

At the conclusion of the 12-day war, @fpri.bsky.social launched a study on the air campaign. Read Guy Plopsky’s analysis below. We obviously have launched a follow on study to discuss Epic Fury www.fpri.org/article/2026...

The use of the AH-64 for drone defense is lifted directly from the IDF and is part of a layered approach, alongside AESA equipped fighters w/ AIM-9X or APKWS. It is neither novel nor new, but is part of the cost effective options available.

The USS Samuel B. Roberts hit a mine in 1988 on an escort mission of a Kuwaiti tanker. The incident kicked off Praying Mantis, which sunk Iranian Navy ships and used USSOF and air power to sink Iranian oil platforms. Were way passed Earnest Will/Praying Mantis. And the tools to coerce the regime

FWIW, the US Navy was opposed to the escort mission in 1986. People really should read up on the reflagged tanker escort mission and how the Reagan administration overcame Navy resistance, the legal hoops to reflag the tankers, how Kuwait used great power politics to force the Reagan admins hand ...

This is the "sophistication paradox" defined. You can achieve a high kill ratio, but if your force is so exquisite and say, you have a 10:1 ratio, but the opponent has 15 units compared to your ten, they still end up being plus, especially when "blue" has slow delivery times for new weapons

🇳🇬 Monday, March 16 at 10:30 EDT: Join FPRI's Africa program for our upcoming virtual event.

Initial reports indicate a small number of mines currently in the Strait of Hormuz, but it only takes the threat of mines to throttle shipping. U.S. mine clearing capabilities have badly atrophied, and mine clearing can’t be done in stride. Especially in the shadow of land-based ASCMs. 2/

In 1991, it took a multi-national mine clearing task force of 40+ ships (plus aircraft) four months to clear Iraqi mines *after the war ended* and they knew where the mines were because they had the charts. Today, unmanned systems help, but the process is still extremely slow and dangerous. 1/

Turkey has no long range air defense and its F-16 fleet is not optimized to counter the drone threat. The reality for Ankara is that it has neglected both its Air Force and air defense for decades through mismanagement. It being spared here is a necessity.

Happening tomorrow at 11:00 EDT. buff.ly/JPmewg1

FWIW, I did a major @fpri.bsky.social on drone defense based on first person interviews with the USAF pilots tasked with the mission during True Promise 1/2. www.fpri.org/article/2025...