Global Scans · Conflict · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Rising tensions around are bringing new and regional geopolitical threats and the possibility of eventual global war. Keep abreast of the unfolding drama and know where the risks and opportunities are in the world.

• [New] In the U.S., continued investment in hypersonics programs like the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile, Long Range Hypersonic Weapon, and Navy Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) reflects a strategic urgency to outpace threats in speed, precision, and survivability. Air Force Tech Connect
• [New] Speakers from across the DoD will stress how building & defending against hypersonic weapons will be vital to preserving national security & ensuring Warfighters have the capabilities needed to win in the multi-domain battlespace. / USA Defense Daily
• [New] Legal frameworks in the US and Europe effectively limit the deployment of fully autonomous weapon systems in environments where there is a risk of lack of discrimination. ARROWS, law firm. Legal services quickly and globally
• [New] If Beijing believed that a major conflict with Washington was imminent, it could consider aggressive cyber operations against US critical infrastructure and military assets. Yahoo News
• [New] The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict serves as both a testing ground and a harbinger, demonstrating that mastery of data, networks, and AI-enabled tools will determine future victors more than traditional metrics of military strength. Hungarian Conservative
• [New] Golden Dome will need a global command-and-control system to fuse information from disparate sources and feed it to weapons with minimal latency. SpaceNews
• [New] Ukraine will likely offer common procurement of its recently developed Neptune cruise missile, a long-range ship weapon, and the Sapsan ballistic missile. Transatlantic Dialogue Center
• [New] During periods of geopolitical tension, such as the Gulf Wars, or during major disruptions to oil supply, OPEC's decisions about production cuts or increases can either stabilize or destabilize the global economy. OilGasZ.com | Energy Intelligence Hub
• [New] Fearing a Russian threat, Poland has embarked on a swift modernization of its armed forces, spending billions on weapons, sourced in particular from the United States and South Korea. Space War
• [New] Recognizing the vulnerabilities of manned platforms, Turkey emphasizes the development of autonomous systems within a fully integrated ecosystem of platforms, propulsion, weapons, and avionics optimized for unmanned and autonomous operations. Defense Update: - Military Technology & Defense News
• [New] Tensions in Ethiopia's Tigray region have escalated significantly, threatening to reignite conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea and destabilize the Horn of Africa. Global Conflict Tracker
• [New] The Kremlin is likely concerned that a bilateral Putin-Zelensky meeting could undermine Putin's domestic justification for Russia's war in Ukraine. Institute for the Study of War
• [New] The 2,000 National Guard members stationed in Washington, D.C., will begin to carry weapons. Letters from an American
• [New] The use of drones in conflicts in the Middle East and in the Russia-Ukraine war in recent years has highlighted their proliferation as well as the dangers they pose. Washington Examiner
• The bigger concern is that any attack on Taiwan could trigger a wider war, and involve the US. Dictionary.com
• Russia is warning that Europe may soon be at war with Russia and China. J.R. Nyquist Blog
• Moscow could be ready to attack a NATO country within three to five years if the war in Ukraine ends. Space War
• Projected developments include autonomous weapons integration in 30-50% of new systems by 2030, AI-enhanced command and control deployment across major units, hypersonic weapons production scale-up, and cyber-integrated defence systems with real-time threat response capabilities. Chandravanshi Inc #
• The war in Ukraine has evolved into a conflict driven by drone technology, and Zelensky suggested a buffer zone of sorts already existed because of the threat of drone strikes close to the front line. Dictionary.com
• The drone flights are likely related to battlefield intelligence attempts meant to give Russia a better idea of what weapons Ukraine has and where Ukraine will deploy them. Institute for the Study of War
• China is preparing to unveil two extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles in September, weapons that could one day challenge US surveillance systems in the Pacific. Daily Kos
• Russia, in the hope of breaking the will of the sovereign Ukrainian people, has called on North Korea for troops, Iran for drones, and China for technology, equipment, and weapons components. GOV.UK

Last updated: 09 September 2025