RUSI in the News: 25 June - 1 July

1 July 2016

Broadcast

General Sir Nick Carter speaking at RUSI Land Warfare Conference, Forces TV

Op Ed

Ignored by the authorities, emboldened by Brexit, Europe’s far right is surging

Foreigners will continue to come and will continue to be a presence around them – providing a community to blame when individual economic situations do not change or feel like they are getting worse.

Raffaello Pantucci for The Guardian, 28 June

How Brexit Could Strengthen ISIS's Message of Hate

In a world of growing superpowers, the U.K. has taken a step back from a potentially emergent one. Notwithstanding whatever agreement that might be reached between the U.K. and its European partners to understand what Brexit looks like in practice, the damage in some ways is done, and we have now seen the limits of pan-European cooperation and discussion.

Raffaello Pantucci for Newsweek, 28 June

Reported in the Media

EU Referendum

What will Brexit do to Britain's place in the world?

“I think it will diminish UK influence in Nato as one of the things it has brought to Nato is its ability to influence and bring along other European member states,” said Malcolm Chalmers, the deputy director general of the Royal United Services Institute.

Malcolm Chalmers in The Guardian, 25 June

Uncertainty prevails as S&P downgrades U.K.'s credit rating after Brexit

"There are hurdles which might go up, which might just make it that little more difficult [to] share information, said Raffaello Pantucci, Director of International Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute, "which might make it that little more difficult to deport people, which might make it that little more difficult to interact and cooperate with European partners."

Raffaello Pantucci in WJLA, 27 June

Air Power

LIGHTNING STRIKES Britain’s long-awaited £100m F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter finally arrives in the UK

Air power expert Justin Bronk, of the Royal United Services Institute, said: “It’s a huge deal, especially given how long anticipated it is and how many technical issues and political issues have got in the way of this flight. The RAF and the Navy are totally committed to it and it will be a core part of our air force.”

Justin Bronk in The Sun, 30 June

Lightning roars through the rainbow: Two years late, the RAF's first £100m F-35 stealth jets touch down in Britain to resurrect 617 'Dambusters' Squadron

Justin Bronk, airpower expert at the Royal United Services Institute, said of the arrival: ‘It is a huge deal especially given how long anticipated it is and how many technical and political issues have got in the way of this flight. It is very hard to detect it in real time and it is incredibly good at detecting anything else.’

Justin Bronk in The Mail on Sunday, 30 June

Long-awaited £70m F-35B jump jet arrives in Britain for the first time

Justin Bronk, an airpower expert at the Royal United Services Institute, said: “It’s a huge deal, especially given how long anticipated it is and how many technical issues and political issues have got in the way of this flight. The RAF and the Navy are totally committed to it and it will be a core part of our air force.”

Justin Bronk in The Telegraph, 29 June

Countering Daesh

Islamic State makes inroads into Kenya

Martine Zeuthen, a Kenya-based expert on violent extremism at Britain's Royal United Services Institute, said the recent arrests "indicate that radicalisation continues to be a serious security concern".

She said that while recruitment into the Somalia-based Al-Qaeda group Shabaab remains the primary danger, "there are also credible reports of recruitment from Kenya to violent groups outside the region, such as those fighting in Libya."

Martine Zeuthen in AFP and Mail Online, 30 June

North Korea

South Korea Hopes To Win Cambodia & Laos Over In North Korea Containment Visit

“It is clearly part of a campaign to influence and sway the countries that conduct illegal trade with Pyongyang, have strong ties to it, or host North Korean illicit networks” explains Andrea Berger, deputy director of the Proliferation and Nuclear Policy program at the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies (RUSI).

Andrea Berger in Forbes Asia, 29 June

Namibia implements UN sanctions, cuts ties with North Korean entities

“North Korea has been working hard to keep its foreign partners onside in the face of strengthened UN sanctions. Namibia’s decision represents a significant setback for North Korea in that respect,” Andrea Berger, deputy director of the Proliferation and Nuclear Policy Program at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told NK News.

Andrea Berger in NK News, 30 June

SCO Summit

SCO Summit Yields More Questions Than Answers

The results of the summit highlight the fact that "it is the Russians who are generally keen on membership, the Uzbeks who are hesitant and will try to block things, whilst the Chinese are hesitant but don't step forwards," said Raffaello Pantucci, Director of International Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute, in an email interview with The Bug Pit.

Raffaello Pantucci in Eurasianet, 25 June

Airport Security

LAX Police ‘Remain Vigilant’ as Airports Consider Security in Wake of Istanbul Attack

"If you go to some other airports in more dangerous parts of the world -- such as in Israel, Afghanistan, and Pakistan -- you'll often find that security barriers are quite far outside the actual airport buildings," said Rafaello Pantucci, director of International Security Studies at the UK's Royal United Services Institute.

Raffaello Pantucci for CNN Wire, 29 June

RUSI Land Warfare Conference

Britain to double its number of troops in Iraq to 500 in a bid to reassure nervous allies we are still a world power in wake of Brexit

Mr Fallon said: ‘With Coalition support, Iraqi forces are pushing Daesh back and reoccupying territory. Fallujah has now been liberated after suffering at the hands of Daesh since early 2014. As Iraqi forces continue to regain territory and begin preparatory operations to retake Mosul, it is important that the Coalition continues to provide the support needed to allow them to make further progress.’ The announcement comes after he told a Royal United Services Institute conference in London that Britain would stay a world power despite the EU vote.

The Daily Mail, 30 June

Britain will remain a world power despite Brexit, says Defence Secretary Michael Fallon

Mr Fallon told the Royal United Services Institute conference in London: “Regardless of the result of the referendum we will remain a major international power with global responsibilities. Moving from one particular union means we will have to work even harder on our commitment to others and other bilateral relationships.”

The Express, 29 June

Battle of the Somme: Freedom & tolerance under attack 100 years on, says Defence Secretary

Committing to Britain's responsibilities to Nato and other defence partnerships across the globe, the defence secretary said Brexit would not see the UK's position of influence in the world diminish. He added: "Just as our forefathers did 100 years ago, today we face those dangers head on."

The Express, 1 July

Watchkeeper future support contract disclosed

Speaking at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Land Warfare conference on 29 June Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon said: ‘Today I am pleased to announce an £80 million support contract has been signed with Thales for Watchkeeper.’ This agreement ensures the British Army’s Watchkeeper system will provide UK troops with next-generation battlefield intelligence for years to come.’

Shepherd Media, 29 June

Battle of the Somme centenary: 100 years on, who still stands with Britain?

The matter of where Britain sits with its friends and allies was a powerful theme at this week’s Land Warfare conference in London. The US sent five generals to reassure British allies that they, their soldiers and expertise, were still valued. The Dutch, Danes, Germans and French did likewise, with no nonsense about spectres at the feast such as the Euro army.

Evening Standard, 30 June

German General on Military Consequences of Brexit

Lieutenant General Carsten Jacobson's remarks came during a meeting of senior officers in London, the Land Warfare Conference. He told Forces TV:

"We will continue our cooperation... with the British Armed Forces, and close cooperation in NATO as we have before. Everything else we have to look at."

BFBS, 30 June