Easter is traditionally a time of peace, reflection, and renewal—but history tells a more conflicted story. Across centuries and continents, the holiday has repeatedly coincided with uprisings, massacres, and decisive battles. Easter has an unsettling legacy as both a symbol of hope and a backdrop for human conflict.

Blood and Resurrection: When Easter Turns Ugly

While Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Art of War may not enjoy the same renown as The Prince, its insights into the nexus of military organization and political stability have influenced subsequent military leaders and strategists over the centuries.

Bunker Books: Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Art of War (1521)

Strategic attacks targeting critical infrastructure such as power grids, data networks, and water supply systems have become a significant threat. The ability to monitor and protect these assets continuously and comprehensively is crucial for maintaining national security.

The author, Jyri Kosola, is the CEO of Pathfinder Solutions and the former Research Director of the Finnish Defence Forces.

Defending the Homeland: Continuous Multi-Domain Surveillance

The USA’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs are a recurring pattern throughout history. These trade barriers have struck the defence industry hard, disrupting imports and exports. In 2024, American defence exports were valued at over $300 billion. Nations have long used trade barriers as instruments of power, and in some cases, these economic skirmishes have spiralled into full-scale military confrontations.

Trade Wars Batter Defence Industry – And Sometimes Lead to Real Wars

Patria has made a decisive move in the global defence industry by acquiring ILIAS Solutions, a Belgium-based leader in digital defence platforms. This acquisition catapults Patria to the forefront of military digitalisation, reinforcing its commitment to data-driven warfare, predictive maintenance, and fleet management. By integrating ILIAS Solutions’s cutting-edge software into its OPTIME service, Patria is now poised to redefine operational readiness across land, sea, and air forces.

Reshaping Defence Tech: Patria Seizes Digital Power with ILIAS Solution Acquisition

Sergei Bondarchuk’s 1970 film Waterloo, produced by Dino De Laurentiis, is a monumental depiction of the historic battle that marked the end of Napoleon Bonaparte’s reign. The film offers a rich tapestry of visual storytelling and historical representation. Filmed during the Cold War in Soviet Ukraine, the Western production used 15,000 soldiers from the Red Army to make the film, including an entire cavalry battalion.

Frontline Flicks: Waterloo (1970)

The United States has dominated the global arms trade for decades. In the past five years, its exports have surged, reinforcing its position at the top. But the ground is shifting. What are the trends, who are the key players, and where does this leave the industry? Tariff disputes and uneasy allies – including Portugal and Canada reconsidering major deals – could leave a lasting impact on global defence markets. Which alternatives are most likely to replace American defence products?

U.S. Tops Arms Trade – While Allies Plot a Plan B

Iran is reshaping its military strategy to counter adversaries and extend its power beyond its borders. Its allies—Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis—have kept Israel occupied. But after the assassination of the Hamas leader in Tehran, Iran is now openly contemplating its own attack, while driving a wedge between the potentially warming ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia. What was Iran’s role in the Hamas assault on Israel outside Gaza?

Regional Proxy Forces Against Israel: Iran’s Triple H Strategy

Originally published in 2008, Fareed Zakaria’s The Post-American World stands as a prescient analysis of the evolving global order. While the book does not predict the collapse of the United States as a global power, it does forecast the relative decline of American primacy due to “the rise of the rest.”

Bunker Books: The Post-American World by Fareed Zakaria

Focusing on security and defence issues. Audio version of the publication: https://nordicdefencereview.com

Trade Wars Batter Defence Industry – And Sometimes Lead to Real Wars

Nordic Defence Review

Related tracks