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RUSI experts and associates provide analysis on the latest developments in defence, security and international affairs.

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France and NATO: President Macron Gets Clinical

Commentary, 8 November 2019

Jonathan Eyal

The French president’s criticism of NATO is not only unsubstantiated, but also detrimental to France itself.

NATO, France

Courtesy of Malitoanton/Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0

NATO vs Russia at 70

Commentary, 6 November 2019

Peter Roberts

The competition between NATO and Russia is not going the Alliance’s way. Russia has encircled Europe and divided the Alliance. How odd then that NATO is in such a self-congratulatory mood on its 70th...

NATO, North America, Russia, Military Sciences, Global Security Issues, Europe

Picture of the Colón Free Trade Zone. Courtesy of Administración de la Zona Libre de Colón/Wikimedia Commons/CC0 1.0

Free Trade Zones and Financial Crime – A Faustian Bargain?

Commentary, 5 November 2019

Isabella Chase, Anton Moiseienko and Alexandria Reid

To safeguard free trade zones from criminal activities, national authorities and zone administrators must feel the pressure to do the right thing.

Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Organised Crime and Policing, Organised Crime

Britain and Russia in Africa: Not Necessarily at Loggerheads

Commentary, 31 October 2019

Barnaby Fletcher

Both Britain and Russia are seeking to re-engage with Africa. While their approaches differ, the continent is big enough to accommodate both of them.

UK-Russia Security Dialogue, Africa

The EU Assesses Cyber Security and 5G Networks

Commentary, 25 October 2019

Rebecca Lucas

The EU’s consolidated risk assessment of the cyber security of 5G networks is not just about Huawei. It highlights wider cyber security risks to 5G networks. Given the lack of market incentives to...

Cyber, Cyber Security, European Union, Technology, Europe

Courtesy of patrick janicek/Flickr. CC BY 2.0

It’s Time to Reform and Refocus the Financial Action Task Force

Commentary, 23 October 2019

Tom Keatinge

The FATF is overstretched. Its responsibilities and the efficiency and effectiveness of its evaluation process must be reassessed.

Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, AML/CTF

Aerial view of Colón Free Trade Zone, Panama, 2014. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Administración de la Zona Libre de Colón

Transparency in the Backbone of Global Supply Chains: Foreign Trade Zones

Commentary, 16 October 2019

Clay R Fuller

Foreign trade zones bring many benefits, but they require greater transparency in order to operate securely and ethically.

AML/CTF, Global Security Issues, Illicit Trade, Law and Ethics, National Security

A B-52 Stratofortress deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., lands on the flight line at RAF Fairford, England, March 20, 2019. The B-52s are deployed to support U.S. Strategic Command’s Bomber Task Force (BTF) in Europe. Courtesy of U.S. Air Force

Partnerships are at the Core of Modern Deterrence

Commentary, 15 October 2019

Giedrimas Jeglinskas

How does a state achieve effective deterrence? Lithuania provides an example.

Modern Deterrence, NATO, Defence Management, Defence Policy, Global Security Issues, International Institutions, Land Forces, Military Personnel, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, Resilience, Europe

The British frigate HMS Phoebe (F42) entering Hampton Roads (USA), 1990. Courtesy of Tracy Lee Didas, US Navy/Wikipedia

Sea Training: An Oft Overlooked Strategic Asset

Commentary, 11 October 2019

Peter Roberts and Sidharth Kaushal

Rumours abound that the Royal Navy is to gut its globally respected Operational Sea Training organisation in order to reallocate cash across defence. It is not simply the UK’s martial reputation that...

UK Defence Policy, Military Sciences, Defence Management, UK, Maritime Forces, Military Personnel, National Security

US National Bank Building, Portland, Oregon, 2011. Courtesy of Steve Morgan/Wikimedia Commons

Addressing the Abuse of Trade for Money Laundering Purposes

Commentary, 9 October 2019

Jonathan Draper

The problem of detecting and tackling money laundering has taxed financial institutions and law enforcement for decades. Trade-based money laundering adds a new dimension of complexity.

AML/CTF, Law and Ethics, Financial Crime 2.0, Organised Crime