Navigating the Waters: China’s Strategic Gambit in Djibouti
China’s investments in Djibouti represent a pivotal moment for U.S. interests in a global maritime nexus. The establishment of China’s first overseas military base, coupled with expansive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, underscores the tangible manifestations of China’s ambitions in the region. These developments are significant not only for their potential to alter regional power dynamics, but also for enabling China to project its military power more effectively and enhance its intelligence-gathering capabilities near U.S. and allied forces. Moreover, the risk of Djibouti falling into a debt trap, unable to repay Chinese loans, could lead to critical infrastructure falling under Chinese control, compounding the challenges faced by the U.S. in maintaining its influence and safeguarding its interests in this maritime corridor.
From Cyber Attacks to Missile Barrages: Russia’s Evolving Ukraine Strategy
Last winter, Russia attempted to break the will of the Ukrainian people to force a peace settlement through widespread attacks against Ukraine’s energy sector. Having failed, and in the face of an increasingly advanced Ukrainian air defense posture, Moscow likely shifted tactics.
On 29 December 2023, Russia launched the largest barrage of missiles and drones against key cities across Ukraine since the start of the war. Similar large-scale attacks have continued into 2024. These barrages have primarily targeted the front line, striking energy infrastructure with far less frequency than in 2023.
North Korea-Russia Technology Deal Could Mark a Significant Shift in Global Balance of Power
North Korea’s successful satellite launch and advanced weapons tests suggest an emergent technology sharing alliance with Russia. Following Kim Jong Un’s September 2023 meeting with Vladimir Putin, North Korea announced its first spy satellite launch and fielded new solid-fueled ballistic missiles and a nuclear underwater drone. The timing implies a reciprocal deal exchanging North Korean weapons for Russian technical aid. This burgeoning partnership marked by quid pro quo arrangements signals a tectonic shift toward a multipolar order, as Russia and North Korea cooperate to improve weapons capabilities threatening the US and allies. With global conflicts stretching Western resources, informed decision-making is critical. Contact 3GIMBALS to learn how our OMEN solution provides the intelligence needed to remain a step ahead.
Uncovering State-Sponsored Disinformation: Inside a Chinese Influence Campaign
Collaborating with Clemson University’s Media Forensics Hub, 3GIMBALS uncovered a widespread Chinese state-sponsored disinformation campaign spreading false narratives about COVID-19’s origins. Using advanced data science techniques, our team discovered over 200 viral memes across 20 online platforms targeting specific individuals. The quality and scope indicated a state-sponsored campaign which we definitively tied to mainland China through studying metadata, technical fingerprints, and geolocation data pointing to an apartment complex in Yulin, China. This enabled public exposure of the disinformation without compromising sensitive government sources. Read the full article to learn more about this analysis and see examples of the uncovered graphics.
Logistical Shift: How New Rail Routes Will Transform Russia’s Ukraine Campaign
3GIMBALS’ OMENTM analysis identified new rail construction in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories (TOT). When complete, these railroad logistics routes will provide Russian military forces direct and secure logistics options with greater flexibility to transport ammunition, armor, fuel, and personnel. The location of these rail lines will diversify Russian military movement options away from the forward […]
Regional Instability Modeling & Migration Analysis: Adding Structure to a Complex Mission
The number of migrants approaching borders around the world remains at record levels. Throughout Eastern Europe, Central America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia—economic hardship, political unrest, violence, and changing climates drive people to leave home. Drought and storms devastate agricultural productivity, impacting food and water security. Poverty, economic decline, and lack of institutional governance create […]
Chinese Economic Investments Advance Security Cooperation in the Solomon Islands
In November 2023, the Solomon Islands plays host to the Pacific Games for the first time. The expanding economic influence of China in the Solomons, evident behind the scenes with infrastructure investments and construction for these games, reflects growing concerns for Pacific Island nations across the region. 3GIMBALS’ OMENTM solution investigates interconnections between Chinese economic […]
Russian Adversarial Electronic Warfare and Analytic Response
Immediately following Russia’s failed blitz invasion into Ukraine in early February 2022, Medium-Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones used by Ukraine gained notoriety in the press for successful exploits against Russian armor and heavy equipment. In contrast, the relatively slow-moving months following the onset of the war presented a prime opportunity for Russia to deploy its […]
3GIMBALS Releases Synthetic Narcotics Precursor Sales Dashboard
3GIMBALS today released its cutting-edge Synthetic Narcotics Precursor Chemical Seller Dashboard Prototype—a game-changing tool that brings innovation and precision to the counternarcotics fight. This dashboard redefines the landscape of narcotics supply chain analysis with an interactive interface, crafted to unveil intricate connections between precursor chemicals, sellers, exporters, export ports and destinations. Click on any element […]
Exposing the Human Impacts of China’s Distant Water Fishing Fleet
China’s distant water fishing fleet has inflicted immeasurable harm on the global community, in particular nations across the global south. The global fish stock is in decline as China amasses a distant water fishing fleet that dwarfs its competition. The United Nations estimates that almost 90 percent of the global marine fish stocks are depleted, […]