The Canadian Army is inviting private-sector companies to compete for the right to develop low-cost precision drones that can identify, track and support destroy adversarial weapons, the government announced in May 2026. The Minerva Initiative, a public-private partnership, was aided by $1.5 million in government seed money, part of the modernization of the Canadian Armed Forces. “The Minerva Initiative reflects our commitment to equipping the Canadian Army with cutting-edge, cost-effective capabilities that deliver real results in the field. By harnessing Canadian innovation and strengthening partnerships across sectors, we are developing smarter tools that enhance decision-making and support our soldiers where…
The Watch
A United States Navy littoral combat ship (LCS) left its squadron’s home port in Florida in May 2026 for a scheduled deployment to bolster the security of the Mexico-U.S. border, a U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) news release stated. The USS Cooperstown left Naval Station Mayport on May 16 to relieve another Freedom-variant LCS, the USS Wichita, which had been engaged in border security operations since November 2025. Both warships belong to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron (LCSRON) 2, which has been under USNORTHCOM command as a maritime component of border security efforts. The vessels are fast, maneuverable warships designed to operate…
Mexican authorities destroyed three synthetic drug labs in Sinaloa, seizing more than 4,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and nearly 1,000 kilograms of other synthetic drugs in May 2026. Meanwhile, across the country, naval and state police raided cartel sea-based smuggling depots in beach communities in the southern state of Chiapas. The security actions demonstrate the continued resolve of Mexico to confront transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The federal government, through the Secretariat of the Navy (MARINA) and the federal security forces, is “keeping its promise to collaborate with local authorities to uphold the rule of law and combat illicit activities that endanger…
A group of United States senators traveled to four Arctic nations in May 2026 to highlight the growing strategic importance of the region and demonstrate U.S. resolve to keep adversarial forces at bay. The eight senators, divided equally along partisan lines and led by Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Jeanne Shaheen, said their trip was to gain a deeper understanding of the region. The U.S. has 1.17 million square kilometers of Arctic territory, fourth in size — behind Canada, Denmark and Russia — of the eight nations with High North real estate. The delegation — which also included Sens. Katie Britt…
The United States Coast Guard will grow its specialized interdiction teams and set up its own Special Missions Command (SMC) to oversee the deployable forces. “We are forging our most elite operators into a single, razor-sharp instrument of national power,” said Adm. Kevin Lunday, commandant of the Coast Guard. The new command will strengthen the readiness, operational effectiveness and interoperability of the Coast Guard, which is responding to more national emergencies and events as the demand for specialized forces increases. The Coast Guard chose the existing Coast Guard C5I Service Center facility in Kearneysville, West Virginia, as the future site of the SMC. The command…
The Utah National Guard collaborated with local partners in April 2026 to respond to a simulated attack on the United States. National Guard units responded to attacks on a water plant, a train and other events associated with an assault on critical infrastructure and heavily trafficked commercial sites. The first-ever exercise was dubbed Operation Wolverine in homage to the 1980’s film “Red Dawn,” which depicted a Cold War-era Russian-Cuban invasion of the U.S. “Exercise Wolverine builds on that concept, simulating what happens when an adversary targets the U.S. homeland. The exercise focused on responding to potential threats at home, testing…
A high-level Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) delegation visited the Netherlands in April 2026 to discuss the continued maintenance and modernization of the RBDF fleet with its Dutch shipbuilding partner, including three vessels undergoing repairs. The first of those ships, the HMBS Rolly Gray, is due to return to service by the end of the year. Damen, the Dutch shipbuilder, has played a crucial role in upgrading RBDF naval assets for more than a decade. The permanent secretary of The Bahamas Ministry of National Security said the relationship has benefited the Caribbean nation. “Permanent Secretary (Bridget) Hepburn opined that having…
A British aircraft carrier led a NATO anti-submarine exercise in the Norwegian Sea in May 2026 at a time of heightened activity in the region by Russian military forces. HMS Prince of Wales took part in the alliance’s Dynamic Mongoose exercise between May 18 and 29. The High North anti-submarine warfare exercise trains NATO forces to detect and counter enemy submarines through multithreat scenarios for submarines, surface ships and aircraft. The United Kingdom has made the defense of NATO’s northern flank a central pillar of its defense strategy. “This 2026 deployment delivers a clear signal of the U.K.’s steadfast commitment…
The United States sanctioned three people accused of money laundering and cash smuggling for the Cartel del Noreste (CDN), a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), in April 2026 after an extensive investigation by the Homeland Security Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration. The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also sanctioned two Mexican casinos. “As President Trump has made clear, Treasury will use all tools to protect our nation from violent cartels looking to reign terror on innocent Americans,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a news release. “Treasury will continue to target the diverse revenue streams that cartels rely…
Each day was an exercise in survival at Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) 26-02 in Alaska, as United States and Canadian Soldiers trained in Arctic warfighting on an unforgiving battlefield while reinforcing their focus on lethality, readiness and operational capabilities. Getting through each day and night was the first order of business. The air reached as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius. At that temperature, exposed skin can freeze in less than 10 minutes — even faster if wind chill makes it feel colder. “Everything’s harder in the Arctic,” Maj. Gen. John Cogbill, commanding general of the 11th Airborne…