Gonzalo Vázquez Orbaiceta, author at Ejercitos Magazine

Infographic of one of the future Hunter class frigates like those that will be part of the Australian Navy

A new future for the Australian Navy's surface fleet

21/03/2024

The Australian Navy has experienced, in recent years, a series of profound changes. The incorporation of Hobart class destroyers, new landing and supply ships was followed by the commitment to the Hunter class frigates and the dramatic turn of its submarine program, finally opting to form the AUKUS alliance with the United States and the United Kingdom. Now, they have taken a step further with the publication of a new analysis and new strength objectives for their surface fleet, which will greatly increase the number of ships in service over the coming years, including optionally manned units. Australia is thus preparing to face the challenges affecting the Indo-Pacific region, starting with the increasingly aggressive attitude of the People's Republic of China. (Continue…) Dear reader, this article is exclusively for paying users. Yeah [Keep reading…]

Point defense system of the USS "Carney" facing a Houthi missile

Hamas' war against Israel (VII): the Red Sea crisis

05/02/2024

Ten days after the Hamas attack on Israel, which opened a new chapter in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, Yemen's Houthis announced that they would attack any merchant ship suspected of having ties of any kind to Israel transiting off their coasts. A decision that has opened a new crisis in the Red Sea, with important consequences. Since then, maritime security in said sea, as well as in its approaches from the Indian Ocean, has deteriorated considerably, with a decrease in maritime traffic of close to 90%. Some of the largest commercial shipping companies in the world, such as the Mollers-Maersk group or Hapag-Lloyd, have decided to temporarily suspend the transit of their ships through the region, a decision that has resulted in delays and increased prices (including of insurers). (Continue…) Dear reader, this article is exclusively for paying users. If you want to access [Keep reading…]

Image provided by the Israel Defense Forces of one of the boats that were trying to infiltrate the coast (Source: IDF).

Hamas's war against Israel (III): the naval war

20/10/2023

In the early hours of the last day of the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, waves of Hamas militants assaulted the defenses of the Gaza Strip using paragliders, vehicles and speedboats. An assault that was followed by large volleys of rockets launched at several towns in Israel, all of which has served, together, to plunge the country into a new war just as 50 years have passed since Yom Kippur.[i] Although For obvious reasons, land attacks have grabbed the headlines, the war on the coast has also had its importance, although limited given the superiority of the Israeli Navy. However, what has happened in the last few hours, as well as the possibility of actors such as Hezbollah becoming more directly involved in the conflict, reminds us of the importance of naval forces and opens the possibility that the action [Keep reading…]

Germany's new National Security Strategy

07/07/2023

Last June 2023, Germany published, after a long period of waiting and uncertainty, its new National Security Strategy, the first in the history of this country. Its preparation has been coordinated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, and has lasted 15 months in total (it has been talked about since the formation of the current coalition government at the end of 2021). The outbreak of war in Ukraine has significantly influenced the document, helping to accelerate its process. Unfortunately for the German country, the marked differences between the government partners - which have also prevented the formation of a national Security Council that would imitate the Spanish National Security Directorate (DSN) or similar organizations in other European nations - do not They predict the best future for a crucial document, born in an exceptional context. (Keep going…) [Keep reading…]

Image taken during the BALTOPS 23 exercise, the most important of those that take place in the Baltic. Source - US Navy.

Maritime security in the Baltic

26/06/2023

During these last years, the profound changes that the international order is experiencing have once again focused special attention on maritime power, as one of the main elements of the competition between great powers. Maritime security, even though it has been neglected in certain periods, has always been fundamental for European countries given the geographical configuration of our continent, little more than an appendix of the great Eurasian mass surrounded by seas and oceans. Europe is surrounded (clockwise) by the Arctic, the Baltic, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the North Sea. All of them are fundamental for the security of the continent, given that each of them has different geopolitical conditions and a different security panorama. Therefore, when considering the maritime-naval dimension of European security, it is appropriate [Keep reading…]

SSBN HMS 'Vanguard' entering Clyde Naval Base, Faslane, Scotland. Source - Royal Navy.

Scotland and its strategic value for NATO

08/02/2023

Scotland, thanks to its privileged geographical position, which allows it to control naval activity in the Norwegian Sea, the North Sea and the well-known GIUK, has been gaining capital importance for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in recent years. . A central role that grows as the Russian Northern Fleet recovers part of its past power and the melting of the Arctic opens new possibilities. However, the possibility of a hypothetical independence continues to loom over the region, a scenario that would affect both the conventional and nuclear deterrence capabilities of NATO as a whole. (Continue…) Dear reader, this article is exclusively for paying users. If you want to access the full text, you can subscribe to Ejercitos Magazine taking advantage of our offer for new subscribers through the following link.

The new US National Strategy for the Arctic

30/11/2022

The Biden Administration has recently published – and with some delay – the latest National Security Strategy, also accompanied by the new United States National Strategy for the Arctic. Although its publication may seem insignificant at first glance, given that the focus is currently on the conflict in Ukraine, the truth is that the Arctic is destined to continue gaining prominence in the national security strategies of many countries during the coming decades. The evolution of the climate, the abundant resources and the presence and activities of countries with a coast (or not) on it, point towards a clear growth in its importance. (Continue…) Dear reader, this article is exclusively for paying users. If you want to access the full text, you can subscribe to Ejercitos Magazine taking advantage of our offer for new subscribers through the following link.