The UK’s Ministry of Defence Delivers a Bland Update on its Modernising Defence Programme
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Commentary
RUSI experts and associates provide analysis on the latest developments in defence, security and international affairs.
Sweden’s Choice: NATO or the Nuclear Ban?
Commentary, 22 September 2017Emil Dall
Sweden's latest military exercises indicate that Stockholm is getting closer to NATO. At the same time, however, the temptation to become party to a new nuclear prohibition treaty may scupper Sweden’...
NATO, International Institutions
Angela Merkel: A Truly ‘Strong and Stable’ Leader
Commentary, 18 September 2017Tobias Borck
‘Strong and Stable’ was not a winning slogan for British Prime Minister Theresa May and her ruling Conservatives, but it seems an apt description of Germany and its Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Germany, Europe
Zapad-2017: Moscow’s Rules
Commentary, 14 September 2017Igor Sutyagin
As Russia’s major military exercises start, Moscow is consistently attempting to undermine its own international obligations to allow foreign observers to monitor these manoeuvres.
Russia, Europe
Russian–Western Dialogue: All Thoughts, No Action
Commentary, 13 September 2017Sarah Lain
Although Russia’s relations with key Western partners remain tense if not deadlocked, there is no shortage of suggestions coming from Moscow for cooperation.
Russia, Europe
Zapad-2017: Why Do the Numbers Matter?
Commentary, 12 September 2017Igor Sutyagin
Russia’s declared number of troops taking part in the biannual Zapad-2017 military exercise, about to start in Belarus, reveals that Moscow is almost certainly being ‘economical with the truth’.
Russia, Europe
How Should Governments Respond to Disasters in the Digital Age?
Commentary, 11 September 2017Corneliu Bjola
The UK government is facing withering criticism that it has been too slow to help British overseas territories devastated by Hurricane Irma. This criticism reveals wider questions about the way...
Resilience
Wave of the Future – Reflections for Resilience Planning Following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma
Commentary, 11 September 2017Alexandra Stickings
Devastating storms and floods around the world lead to questions concerning how governments can prepare for future resilience.
Resilience
What Rivals Will Britain’s New T31e Corvette be Facing?
Commentary, 8 September 2017Peter Roberts
The launch this week of Britain’s national shipbuilding strategy, with an order of five vessels to be designed and built in English shipyards, sees the UK’s aspiration to compete in the global...
Defence Spending, UK, Maritime Forces, UK Defence, Europe
A Falling Star? France’s Emmanuel Macron Struggles to Maintain His Agenda
Commentary, 6 September 2017Jonathan Eyal and Benjamin Agnew
The difficulties facing France’s president are just beginning, and there are increasing doubts about his ability to tackle the country’s deep-seated problems.
France, Europe
Pakistan to the US: Don’t Threaten Us. We Can Walk Away
Commentary, 4 September 2017Kamal Alam
It is said that in order to understand Pakistan, you need to know three ‘A’s’: Allah; America; and the army. While Allah and the army are still central to Pakistan, it can be argued that America’s...
Pakistan, Central and South Asia
AUKMIN 2018: The Future of Global Britain?
Imran Khan: The Captain Begins His Greatest Test Match
US Sanctions on Russia