Traditionally, wars have been fought between organised forces facing off in armed battle. That model is giving way to hi-tech operations which, in some cases, involve computer-operated, unmanned equipment, where one side is nowhere to be seen in the field of battle. But the geopolitical landscape is also influencing modern warfare. In a prelude to a series on Russian rearmament, this article examines the magnitude of the changes since the end of the Cold War, and why there could be more to fear from what replaces it.
THE SECOND World War was one of the defining events of the 20th century. It was not just the deadliest war in human history with an estimated 50-70 million killed, ...