RUSI Newsbrief Vol. 38, No. 7

This issue of Newsbrief includes articles on the Russian nationalist motorcycle club known as The Night Wolves, the Crime/Terror Nexus, the American military presence in Iceland, and sport diplomacy at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Much Ado About the Nexus: Why Does the Crime/Terror Nexus Matter?

Florence Keen and Anton Moiseienko

All too often, any overlaps between crime and terror are seen as forming part of a single problem of the ‘crime/terror nexus’. In reality, they present a range of disparate issues that should be addressed in their proper context.

A Fleeting or Permanent Military Presence? The Revival of US Anti-Submarine Operations from Iceland

Valur Ingimundarson

Increased Russian naval activities in the North Atlantic have refocused Western military attention on Iceland’s geostrategic importance. But even if the US has resumed irregular Cold War-style maritime and anti-submarine patrols from Iceland, there are no plans to reopen the American military base on the island.

The Night Wolves Settle in Slovakia, and the Kremlin With Them?

Sébastien Gobert

As the infamous Russian motorcycle club ‘The Night Wolves’ establish a permanent presence in Central Europe, the Kremlin is well-placed to exert its influence in this problematic part of the EU

Putin Already Won in Hosting Russia 2018: The FIFA World Cup and Sport Diplomacy

J Simon Rofe

The recently concluded FIFA World Cup in Russia provided Russian President Vladimir Putin with a platform to engage in a fruitful bout of ‘sport diplomacy’. Through hosting the World Cup, Putin helped to enhanced Russia’s place on the international stage, positioning himself as orchestrator of a geopolitical contest for the duration of the tournament, while a quality sporting spectacle played out on the pitch.