Open designs don't guarantee a competitive defense market. My latest Arsenal Mechanics examines how the Air Force's CCA and the Army's modular launcher approach supplier incentives, data rights, and integration costs. widergame.substack.com/p/open-syste...

Financing Competition in an Open Arsenal

Air Force autonomy contracts and the Army’s modular launcher show why competitive upgrades depend on viable suppliers and sustained integration investment.

widergame.substack.com

Six Nordic defense firms propose recognizing allied equipment certifications and funding production capacity before orders arrive. Both could accelerate procurement, but shift risk to governments. How much should countries pay to keep capacity ready? widergame.substack.com/p/nordic-def...

Insightful analysis from Peter Zeihan on Europe's nuclear future. Britain commits its deterrent to NATO; France is expanding cooperation without an automatic guarantee. Whether that reassures European allies may shape future pressure for independent nuclear capabilities.

France and the UK Choose the Nuclear Option || Peter Zeihan

YouTube video by Zeihan on Geopolitics

youtube.com

You shouldn't need a background in international affairs to understand what's happening around the world. I just launched The World, Explained: a short, daily read covering major global developments, with history and context that headlines often leave out. widergame.substack.com/p/the-world-...

THE WORLD, EXPLAINED

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

widergame.substack.com

Food and energy shipments can resume before access arrangements become dependable. That leaves businesses exposed to disruptions even while trade continues. In my latest assessment, I examine the indicators that could signal a more durable recovery: widergame.substack.com/p/wartime-tr...

Can Limited Deals Make Wartime Trade More Reliable?

Food and energy shipments can recover during war, but dependable access requires political cooperation and sustained protection.

widergame.substack.com

Poland's planned PAC-3 maintenance facility could shorten repair cycles for European missile operators, but it won't manufacture new interceptors. The strategic gain depends on whether regional repair capacity actually improves availability, and how quickly.

Introducing The Wider Game: independent analysis of geopolitics, strategic competition, and defense. I'm Alexandra Stratz, a former U.S. national security professional. I focus on what developments mean, where they may lead, and the indicators worth watching. widergame.substack.com

The Wider Game | Alexandra Stratz | Substack

Independent analysis of global affairs, national security, and aerospace and defense, connecting current developments to the forces shaping power, competition, and strategic choices. Click to read The...

widergame.substack.com