Defence
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Iron in zion
Hezbollah rockets have forced Israeli towns to be abandoned. In response, Israel is building Iron Dome, an anti-missile shield that could change the pace of diplomacy in the region and beyond.
Horn of plenty
A tiny Muslim nation in a hostile region, Djibouti is perfectly positioned to monitor Islamist militants. That’s why the US army is here and, thanks to a hearts-and-minds programme, is welcome to stay.
Final frontier
The Tajik-Afghan border is one of the world's most dangerous, central to the heroin trade. Can it be tamed? The US, EU and China are trying to help – but why?
Accidental empire
The Pacific islands are a new diplomatic battleground for China, the US and Taiwan. But it is Australia running police forces and propping up governments, raising the question: is it running an accidental empire?
Japanese MSDF
Under its post-war constitution, Japan is not allowed a navy, army or air force, only Self Defence Forces. Yet, today, the country has one of the largest, most sophisticated fleets in the world with…
