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Malcolm
Chalmers

Deputy Director-General

Professor Malcolm Chalmers is Deputy Director-General of RUSI and directs its growing portfolio of research into contemporary defence and security issues. His own work is focused on UK defence, foreign and security policy. His most recent papers have been on national interest and UK foreign policy, tensions between the rules-based international systems, UK defence budgeting, and the security implications of Brexit.  Chalmers has been an Adviser to Parliament’s Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy since 2012, and was Senior Special Adviser to Foreign Secretaries Jack Straw MP and Margaret Beckett MP.  

For an extended list of publications by Professor Chalmers, click here >

Malcolm
Chalmers
Deputy Director-General

Contact Details

+44(0)20 7747 4970

Research Focus

Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, UK Defence Policy, UK, Defence Policy, UK Defence UK defence policy and operations, UK foreign and security policy, UK defence budgets, Scotland, Defence Economics, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy

By This Author

"Speaking on a media conference call on 27 January 2020, Chalmers said: “What’s very clear is that the government is in a really difficult dilemma, one it’s been in for the past 18 months or so, since this issue really rose on the agenda, particularly amongst Five Eyes countries. “In its actions, the US government is arguing that it would be a significant risk to national security, indeed to the security of the UK’s allies, if any Huawei equipment was to be left in our telecoms networks – and that risk will increase as we move from 4G to 5G. That’s not consistent with the technical advice the UK government has been getting from experts based at the National Cyber Security Centre [NCSC], who are responsible for our nation’s cyber security,” he said."

UK in catch-22 decision over Huawei security

27 January 2020

Tags: Cyber, Cyber Security, Future UK Cyber Security Strategy Project

"Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director of the Royal United Services Institute, said: “The strategic significance of the Cummings intervention is a signal to the MoD: ‘we don’t think you’re very efficient, so if you ask for more money you’ll have to find more savings yourself’. “Historically one of the strongest weapons No. 10 and the Cabinet Office have with the MoD in budgetary discussions is to say ‘you guys don’t really have your [stuff] together so you’re not going to get any more money until you do get it together. “Once they accept the MoD is running things as well as they can, then they address the capability requirements and the threat. On that terrain No. 10 and the Treasury are on weaker ground politically, but not the inefficiency ground. It puts the MoD on the defensive and does play into the spending round dialogue.”"

Armed Forces Chiefs each given one priority to fix before MoD can ask for more money, says Defence secretary

20 December 2019

Tags: UK
Houses of Parliament

Clarity on Brexit: The Security Consequences

13 December 2019

Amidst a challenging fiscal and security climate, the new government has an opportunity to develop a post-Brexit security and defence...

Tags: Defence Spending, European Union, UK, Defence Policy, UK Defence

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Chinese and British Perspectives on the Road to the NPT 2010

1 March 2012

Edited by Malcolm Chalmers

A study exploring the non-proliferation policies of these two major nuclear powers at a critical time for arms control

Tags: International Security Studies, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Conference Reports, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy

Small Nuclear Forces: Five Perspectives

1 December 2011

Edited by Malcolm Chalmers, Andrew Somerville and Andrea Berger

In an era of smaller weapons stockpiles, what are the policy drivers for the medium-sized nuclear-weapon states - and how might they...

Tags: Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Whitehall Reports, Defence Policy, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy

Briefing Paper: Is the UK Defence Budget Crisis Really Over?

5 October 2011

Malcolm Chalmers

The Ministry of Defence appears to have finally balanced the books, at least on paper. But the real work to make the savings real begins now

Tags: Briefing Papers

If the Bombs Go: European Perspectives on NATO’s Nuclear Debate

25 May 2011

Edited by Malcolm Chalmers and Andrew Somerville

US tactical nuclear weapons may be heading out of Europe. What are the implications?

Tags: Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Whitehall Reports, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy

Keeping our Powder Dry? UK Defence Policy Beyond Afghanistan

16 February 2011

Prolonged military commitments and financial austerity call into question Britain’s participation in the age of intervention

Tags: RUSI Journal, Defence Policy

NATO and Nuclear Weapons: Is a New Consensus Possible?

24 August 2010

Steven Andreasen, Malcolm Chalmers and Isabelle Williams

Is a new consensus possible over NATO's nuclear weapons policy?

Tags: Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, NATO, Occasional Papers, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Europe

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"Andrey Kortunov and Malcolm Chalmers on whether external efforts can achieve regional stability (In the middle east)"

The Middle East as an opportunity for European-Russia engagement

13 February 2019 Tags:

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