Sanjay Badri-Maharaj

Despite a well-integrated Muslim population, and an environment where there is no tangible discrimination or lack of opportunity, the Jihadist ideology has succeeded in taking root in Trinidad. Links with organized crime have helped fuel the movement and strong links have been forged with ISIS and Al-Qaeda with the result that at least 89 Trinidadians are now in Syria. It is also argued that some Trinidadian Muslims have succumbed to the messages broadcast by ISIS and that the lure of fighting for an Islamic Caliphate has found resonance.

• Published: March 2017
• Strategic Analysis

The main threat to Mexico comes from illegal privately-operated aircraft which are heavily involved in smuggling. The inability of the Mexican Air Force to guarantee the integrity of its own airspace is therefore a matter of concern.

• Published: February 28, 2017
• IDSA Comments

On 5 February 2017, a version of the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) was unveiled. The aptly-named “Advanced Hawk” is a joint-venture between BAE Systems and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It has been developed using internal funds on an equal risk basis and offers significant enhancement of the capabilities of the basic Hawk AJT.

• Published: February 13, 2017
• IDSA Comments

Israel’s influence on the new Trump Administration might clear the obstacles that have stood in the way of Honduras’ efforts to modernise its airforce

• Published: February 09, 2017
• IDSA Comments

Suriname’s national army remains critically deficient in terms of air transport and maritime surveillance aircraft. It is an open question whether country’s armed forces will prove equal to the task of combating transnational organised crime.

• Published: February 02, 2017
• Issue Brief

While the Cuban armed forces are but a shadow of their former self with unserviceable equipment and massive reductions in personnel strength, the country still retains combat capabilities far in excess of any of its Caribbean neighbours.

• Published: January 18, 2017
• IDSA Comments

The SAN in the post-Apartheid era has been completely transformed from a “brown-water” force of missile craft and short-range submarines to one with considerable “blue-water” capability. However, serious allegations of corruption have marred its procurement processes.

• Published: January-June 2017
• Africa Trends

Decommissioned Military Hardware can be gainfully be used as “gifts” in order to forge greater ties with recipient countries and potentially, make way for possible purchases of military hardware from India in the future.

• Published: January 10, 2017
• IDSA Comments

While the larger air forces are capable of sustaining their existing and future inventories for some time to come, the combat assets available to the region’s smaller air forces are facing a problem of pending obsolescence.

• Published: December 22, 2016
• IDSA Comments

The Jamaican Defence Forces have retained their cutting edge due to a skillful balancing of priorities with resources, the weak economy notwithstanding.

• Published: December 09, 2016
• IDSA Comments