![Servicemen of the Pakistan Armed Forces take part in anti-terrorist training as part of the Druzhba-2017 [Friendship] Russian-Pakistani joint military drills in the village of Nizhny Arkhyz. Courtesy of Denis Abramov/PA Images](https://rusi.org/sites/default/files/styles/hero/public/pakistan_army_in_russia.jpg?itok=vlEZhXS6 "Servicemen of the Pakistan Armed Forces take part in anti-terrorist training as part of the Druzhba-2017 [Friendship] Russian-Pakistani joint military drills in the village of Nizhny Arkhyz. Courtesy of Denis Abramov/PA Images")
RUSI Journal April/May
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RUSI publications offer rigorous, timely and policy-relevant analysis of UK and international defence and security issues
RUSI Newsbrief Vol. 38, No. 6
Newsbrief, 17 August 2018This issue of Newsbrief includes articles on extremism in the UK, NATO spending, cybercrime and money laundering, and NATO's approach to artificial intelligence.
Tags:
The Night Wolves Settle in Slovakia, and the Kremlin With Them?
Newsbrief, 16 August 2018Sébastien 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
Tags: Russia, Global Security Issues, Organised Crime
Australia’s Aegis Destroyer Will Improve its Defensive Capabilities
RUSI Defence Systems, 13 August 2018Debalina Ghoshal
The Royal Australian Navy is leveraging the latest Aegis combat system, SM-6 interceptor missiles and its new Hobart-class destroyers to limit its vulnerability to proliferating ballistic and cruise missile threats in the Indo-Pacific region. This has implications for interoperability with allies and deterrence.
Tags: Maritime Forces, Pacific
Putin Already Won in Hosting Russia 2018: The FIFA World Cup and Sport Diplomacy
Newsbrief, 10 August 2018J 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.
Tags: Russia, Global Security Issues
Useful for the Next Hundred Years? Maintaining the Future Utility of Airpower
RUSI Journal, 8 August 2018Clive Bount
The advantages of airpower must be demonstrated to decision-makers.
Tags: Aerospace, Defence Spending, Technology
NATO, Russia and Private Military and Security Companies: Looking into the Dark Reflection
RUSI Journal, 8 August 2018Christopher Spearin
The Atlantic Alliance should update its approach in light of Russia’s recent use of private military and security companies.
Tags: NATO, Russia
Capacity for War: Preparing the British Aviation Industry in the 1920s
RUSI Journal, 8 August 2018Matthew Powell
Aircraft manufacturers and the Air Ministry struggled to agree on the industry’s structure in preparing for the next war.
Tags: Aerospace, Defence Management, UK, History
Book Review: The End of Grand Strategy: US Maritime Operations in the Twenty-First Century
RUSI Journal, 8 August 2018Peter Layton
Peter Layton reviews The End of Grand Strategy: US Maritime Operations in the Twenty-First Century, by Peter Dombrowski and Simon Reich
Tags: United States
The RAF and Space Doctrine: A Second Century and a Second Space Age
RUSI Journal, 8 August 2018Bleddyn E Bowen
The UK’s Ministry of Defence sees space power as a key part of Britain’s security – whether the RAF takes the lead remains to be seen.
Tags: Aerospace, Technology
The RAF’s Force Structure Plan and Future Threat Scenarios
RUSI Journal, 8 August 2018Justin Bronk
In a lengthy conflict with a major rival, the RAF would struggle to sustain operations.
Tags: NATO, Russia, Defence Policy, UK, UK DefencePages
The Reality of China’s Maritime Capability
RUSI Journal, 30 August 2018Martin N Murply and Peter Roberts
Beijing has rapidly modernised and expanded its capabilities as it challenges the West in China’s neighbourhood.
Tags: US Defence Policy, Defence Policy, Maritime Forces
Understanding Modern Airpower
RUSI Journal, 30 August 2018John Andreas Olsen
Airpower professionals need a comprehensive understanding of airpower – from the technology to its relationship with the contemporary political, social and economic context.
Tags: Aerospace, Defence Policy
A Commentary on Lord Eustace Percy’s ‘The League of Nations’
RUSI Journal, 30 August 2018Stephen Reimer
Tags: The Great War, History
100 Years of the RAF: Perspectives on the Past and Future of Airpower
RUSI Journal, 30 August 2018Ewan Lawson
The last century has seen rapid change for airpower – with more innovation on the horizon for the next 100 years.
Tags: Aerospace, History
The League of Nations
RUSI Journal, 30 August 2018Lord Eustace Percy
This 1919 article makes the case for Britain’s participation in the then newly formed League of Nations.
Tags: The Great War, History
Changing Character, Changing Context: Enhancing Operational Airpower Employment in the Royal Air Force's Second Century
RUSI Journal, 30 August 2018Johnny Stringer
The British Air Vice-Marshal reflects on the future of the RAF.
Tags: Aerospace, Defence Policy
NATO, Russia and Private Military and Security Companies: Looking into the Dark Reflection
RUSI Journal, 8 August 2018Christopher Spearin
The Atlantic Alliance should update its approach in light of Russia’s recent use of private military and security companies.
Tags: NATO
Capacity for War: Preparing the British Aviation Industry in the 1920s
RUSI Journal, 8 August 2018Matthew Powell
Aircraft manufacturers and the Air Ministry struggled to agree on the industry’s structure in preparing for the next war.
Tags: Aerospace, Defence Management, History
Book Review: The End of Grand Strategy: US Maritime Operations in the Twenty-First Century
RUSI Journal, 8 August 2018Peter Layton
Peter Layton reviews The End of Grand Strategy: US Maritime Operations in the Twenty-First Century, by Peter Dombrowski and Simon Reich
Tags:
The RAF and Space Doctrine: A Second Century and a Second Space Age
RUSI Journal, 8 August 2018Bleddyn E Bowen
The UK’s Ministry of Defence sees space power as a key part of Britain’s security – whether the RAF takes the lead remains to be seen.
Tags: Aerospace, Technology
The RAF’s Force Structure Plan and Future Threat Scenarios
RUSI Journal, 8 August 2018Justin Bronk
In a lengthy conflict with a major rival, the RAF would struggle to sustain operations.
Tags: NATO, Defence Policy, UK Defence
Airpower in British Popular Culture
RUSI Journal, 8 August 2018Philip Sabin
The human experience, rather than technology and tactics, is emphasised in British portrayals of airpower.
Tags: Art, Culture and Literature, Technology
Useful for the Next Hundred Years? Maintaining the Future Utility of Airpower
RUSI Journal, 8 August 2018Clive Bount
The advantages of airpower must be demonstrated to decision-makers.
Tags: Aerospace, Defence Spending, Technology
Book Review: Europe’s Last Chance: Why the European States Must Form a More Perfect Union
RUSI Journal, 3 August 2018Michelle Cini
Michelle Cini reviews Europe’s Last Chance: Why the European States Must Form a More Perfect Union, by Guy Verhofstadt
Tags: Brexit Briefings
Book Review: Defending the Rock: How Gibraltar Defeated Hitler
RUSI Journal, 30 July 2018Chris Grocott
Chris Grocott reviews Defending the Rock: How Gibraltar Defeated Hitler, by Nicholas Rankin
Tags: History
Vostok’s Weak Optics Reveal Russia and China’s Fractured Relationship
Newsbrief, 21 September 2018Emily Ferris and Veerle Nouwens
The joint Russia–China Vostok exercises demonstrated some military cooperation between the two. However, the more significant event was the concomitant Eastern Economic Forum, an investment forum hosted in Russia’s Far East. Amid a depressed economy, Russia is attempting to encourage Chinese investment in the Far East, but many deals with China have fallen through and large-scale investment is...
Tags: Global Security Issues, Land Forces![Servicemen of the Pakistan Armed Forces take part in anti-terrorist training as part of the Druzhba-2017 [Friendship] Russian-Pakistani joint military drills in the village of Nizhny Arkhyz. Courtesy of Denis Abramov/PA Images](https://rusi.org/sites/default/files/styles/tab_images/public/pakistan_army_in_russia.jpg?itok=0yqg52TM "Servicemen of the Pakistan Armed Forces take part in anti-terrorist training as part of the Druzhba-2017 [Friendship] Russian-Pakistani joint military drills in the village of Nizhny Arkhyz. Courtesy of Denis Abramov/PA Images")
Pakistan’s Army Reverses the Great Game: The Oxus Meets the Indus
Newsbrief, 7 September 2018Kamal Alam
In 1947, Pakistan’s army inherited the default position and strategy of British India in opposing Russian influence and inroads into Afghanistan and Central Asia. Now, for the first time in 200 years, they have reversed the old British policy of confronting the Russians for control over Central Asia. Pakistan’s army now sees the Russians as their strategic partners.
Tags: Armed Forces, Global Strategy and Commitments, International Responses, Military Personnel
Much Ado About the Nexus: Why Does the Crime/Terror Nexus Matter?
Newsbrief, 31 August 2018Florence 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.
Tags: Global Security Issues, Organised Crime, Terrorism
A Fleeting or Permanent Military Presence? The Revival of US Anti-Submarine Operations from Iceland
Newsbrief, 24 August 2018Valur 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.
Tags: Aerospace, NATO, Security Policy, Defence Policy, Global Security Issues, Maritime Forces, Military Personnel
RUSI Newsbrief Vol. 38, No. 6
Newsbrief, 17 August 2018This issue of Newsbrief includes articles on extremism in the UK, NATO spending, cybercrime and money laundering, and NATO's approach to artificial intelligence.
Tags:
The Night Wolves Settle in Slovakia, and the Kremlin With Them?
Newsbrief, 16 August 2018Sébastien 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
Tags: Global Security Issues, Organised Crime
Putin Already Won in Hosting Russia 2018: The FIFA World Cup and Sport Diplomacy
Newsbrief, 10 August 2018J 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...
Tags: Global Security Issues
A Tale of Two Terrors: The British Extreme Right Organises While Islamists Scatter
Newsbrief, 31 July 2018Raffaello Pantucci
Once again, the dividing lines that distinguish between variations of violent extremism in the UK have morphed, but addressing the similarities and differences between the extreme right and violent Islamists should help to ensure that the UK’s counter-terror strategy as synchronised as possible with the current threat picture.
Tags: UK Counter-terrorism, Tackling Extremism, Domestic Security, Intelligence, National Security, Terrorism
As Budget Polemic Drives Headlines, Do Not Lose Track of NATO’s Approach to AI
Newsbrief, 27 July 2018Amir Husain, August Cole and Wendy R Anderson
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a decisive force in the international security environment, with the potential to transform everything from information operations to intelligence analysis to mission planning. Whether NATO takes a unified approach to AI or not is a crucial question for the Alliance to consider.
Tags: NATO, Technology
Australia’s Aegis Destroyer Will Improve its Defensive Capabilities
RUSI Defence Systems, 13 August 2018Debalina Ghoshal
The recent deal is comprehensive and includes command display systems; consoles; multimission display systems including projectors, sensors and cameras; Tactical Equivalent AEGIS LAN Interconnect System Cabinets; Tactical Equivalent AEGIS LAN Interconnect System (ALIS); Tactical Equivalent Advanced Storage Area Network Cabinets; Global Command and Control System- Maritime; Cooperative Engagement...
Tags: Maritime Forces
Enter the Tempest
RUSI Defence Systems, 16 July 2018Justin Bronk
The various artworks and the demonstrator model all includes canted vertical stabilisers, which are a feature on all currently operational fighter aircraft, but not the US Air Force’s famous B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, or various flying wing/cranked kite shapes that have come to characterise unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) demonstrators produced around the world, including Taranis, nEUROn,...
Tags: Aerospace
A Fourth F-35 Variant?
RUSI Defence Systems, 15 June 2018Andrew Hartland
STOVL Vs CV Operation - Benefits and LimitationsThe traditional method of operating fast jets from ships is to use steam-operated catapaults for take-off and arrester wires and tailhooks for landing. These systems are expensive, high maintenance and require a large ship to permit efficient flight deck operations. They also impose large loads on the aircraft and hence significant weight penalties...
Tags: Aerospace
Counter-UAS – a ‘Wicked’ Problem?
RUSI Defence Systems, 6 June 2018Adam Coffey
The need to counter UAS has been understood for some time but has so far gained limited traction within stretched budgets and competing demands. However, this is changing and a whole spectrum of projects have been started to address this challenge. With such a wide variety of potential UAS threats to tackle, it is unsurprising that unique and innovative approach are being tested, from training...
Tags: Technology
The European Fighter Cooperation Question: How Many UK F-35s?
RUSI Defence Systems, 18 May 2018Justin Bronk
BAE Systems, which is one of the prime partners within the Eurofighter consortium that produced Typhoon, and which also produces significant parts of each F-35 built globally, faces a major problem. While ongoing upgrades to Typhoon for customers such as Kuwait and Qatar, and potentially Germany, help to maintain a core of design, integration and testing skills in the workforce, the Typhoon...
Tags: Aerospace
The lights are going out all over Europe
RUSI Defence Systems, 27 April 2018Joss Meakins
Attacks on energy infrastructure are not new. In 2007, the US government ran the Aurora Test to prove that a cyberattack could destroy the physical components of a generator. A few years later, US intelligence used Stuxnet to destroy and disrupt Iranian nuclear centrifuges. This operation presaged a new dawn in cyber warfare, vividly illustrating the digital vulnerability of energy systems....
Tags: Cyber
Networked Air Warfare – Where Next?
RUSI Defence Systems, 26 March 2018Andrew Hartland
In parallel with the development of UAVs, the use of airborne sensor/C2 platforms such as the EC-121 and E-3 AWACS for air targets and the E-8 JSTARS and Sentinel R-1 for ground targets has also steadily increased. The radars on these platforms are much more capable than those carried by any fighter-type aircraft because of greater size and power. As a result, they could take on much of the...
Tags: Aerospace
UK Basing Posture Renews Naval Capability
RUSI Defence Systems, 7 March 2018James Shinnie
Bearing these factors in mind enables a greater level of insight into the purpose of a specific base, and thereby a greater understanding of the strategic outlook of the countries involved. Britain’s choices in the renewal of its overseas posture point to a desire to exert more influence over international events, particularly in the Middle East using naval means. While these choices are not...
Tags: Maritime Forces
China and the Globalisation of Armed Drone Strikes
RUSI Defence Systems, 26 February 2018Scott N. Romaniuk & Tobias Burgers
China as a Rising Drone PowerChina’s first-generation systems were somewhat rudimentary; simple and capable of carrying a relatively light payload, and were not satellite-linked – meaning they could conduct strikes within a limited scope, but could not operate globally. System development has expanded over the past few years at a rapid rate, leading to the emergence of next-generation systems....
Tags: Aerospace
Machine Learning Algorithms and Police Decision-Making: Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Challenges
Whitehall Reports, 21 September 2018Alexander Babuta, Marion Oswald and Christine Rinik
This report seeks to critically assess the use of machine learning algorithms for policing, and provide practical recommendations designed to contribute to the fast-moving debate over policy and governance in this area.
Tags: Domestic Security, Information, Technology
Gender and Violent Extremism
Conference Reports, 7 September 2018Martine Zeuthen and Gayatri Sahgal
In recent years, Kenya has seen an increasing interest in understanding the participation of women in violent extremist activity. This report summarises the proceedings of a research seminar jointly hosted by RUSI and the French Institute for Research in Africa that investigated women's involvement with violent extremist organisations and the gendered impact of violent extremism.
Tags: Horn of Africa, Tackling Extremism, Africa
Underwriting Proliferation: Sanctions Evasion, Proliferation Finance and the Insurance Industry
Occasional Papers, 9 July 2018Emil Dall and Tom Keatinge
This paper seeks to establish the baseline for a discussion on proliferation finance in the (re)insurance sector. The insurance industry can play a vital role in contributing to the successful implementation of international sanctions and wider counter proliferation efforts against North Korea.
Tags: United Nations, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
International Day of UN Peacekeepers: 16th Annual Conference
Conference Reports, 6 July 2018Ewan Lawson
The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 16th Annual Conference was jointly organised by the United Nations Association – UK, the United Nations Association – Westminster, and RUSI. This report outlines the proceedings of the conference, where sessions focused on missions where there is no peace to keep, future peacekeeping, and challenges of leadership in today’s complex missions.
Tags: United Nations, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
RUSI Missile Defence Conference 2018
Conference Reports, 4 July 2018Peter Roberts and Sidharth Kaushal
A report on the eighteenth annual RUSI Missile Defence Conference held on 30 May 2018, marking a significant contribution to the evolution of policy while advancing discussion of missile defence issues between senior policymakers and practitioners.
Tags: Equipment and Acquisitions, Global Strategy and Commitments
The First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference 2018: Maritime Strategy in the Twenty-First Century
Conference Reports, 27 June 2018Peter Roberts and Sidharth Kaushal
A report on the proceedings of The First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference 2018, hosted by RUSI. The conference addressed the potential for human-machine combat teaming, implications for force design, disinvestment strategies and people from the year 2035.
Tags: Global Security Issues, Maritime Forces
Contractorisation of UK Defence: Developing a Defence-Wide Contractorisation Strategy and Improving Implementation
Occasional Papers, 21 June 2018Jay Edwards
This paper endeavours to develop a high-level, defence-wide contractorisation strategy and define how implementation could be improved to underpin the Whole Force Approach.
Tags: Defence Management, UK
The Personal Security of Individuals in British Public Life
Occasional Papers, 7 June 2018Alexander Babuta and Alex Krasodomski-Jones
This paper examines the personal security of individuals in British public life, with specific focus on politicians and government employees.
Tags: UK, Information
The Home Front: The Future Accommodation Model for the UK Armed Forces: Obligations and Choices for Service Personnel and Families
Occasional Papers, 31 May 2018John Louth, Trevor Taylor, Lauren Twort and Gabriela Thompson
The accommodation options offerred to defence personnel and their families are central to Britain's defence policy.
Tags: Armed Forces, Civil–Military Relations, Defence Management, Defence Policy, UK, Military Personnel, UK Defence, Europe
Ensuring the Protection of Civilians in Modern Conflict
Conference Reports, 8 May 2018Amanda Brydon, Denisa Delić and Aniseh Tabrizi
Report on a private roundtable discussion with experts that was hosted in September 2017, to analyse the current landscape of civilian protection in modern armed conflict, and to discuss the role that the UK government could play in addressing them.
Tags: International Institutions, Law and Ethics
Brexit and European Security
Briefing Papers, 26 February 2018Malcolm Chalmers
RUSI Deputy Director-General Malcolm Chalmers looks at the security implications for the UK and Europe post-Brexit.
Tags: European Union
National Security Relations with France after Brexit
Briefing Papers, 15 January 2018Peter Ricketts
Written by Lord Peter Ricketts, former National Security Adviser and UK Ambassador to France, this Briefing Paper recommends that the UK and France step up joint work on defence, security and nuclear deterrence policy.
Tags: France, Defence Policy, UK, Intelligence
A New State in the Middle East? From the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to the Republic of Kurdistan
Briefing Papers, 19 September 2017Gareth Stansfield
The likely result of the upcoming referendum in the Kurdish areas of Iraq will create a dilemma for the Iraqi state and foreign powers.
Tags: Iraq, Defence Policy, Global Security Issues, Middle East and North Africa
Still International by Design? Towards a Post-Brexit SDSR
Briefing Papers, 11 May 2017Malcolm Chalmers
The next British government will have to decide whether an earlier than anticipated review of the UK's military capabilities is needed.
Tags: Armed Forces, Defence Spending, Brexit Briefings, Equipment and Acquisitions, Defence Management, Defence Policy, UK, UK Defence, Europe
Ready for Peace? The Afghan Taliban after a Decade of War
Briefing Papers, 31 January 2017Theo Farrell and Michael Semple
Despite high-profile success on the battlefield, interviews with Taliban personnel reveal substantial discord within the group.
Tags: Afghanistan, The decade after 9/11, The Pakistan Nexus, Counterinsurgency, The War on Terror, Central and South Asia
UK Foreign and Security Policy after Brexit
Briefing Papers, 9 January 2017Malcolm Chalmers
Despite a looming split, the UK must seek to create a new relationship with the EU while strengthening ties with major European and non-European partners. Such measures could allow the UK to continue to contribute to resolving major security challenges.
Tags: Brexit Briefings, European Union, Security Policy, UK, Europe
Russia Confronts NATO: Confidence-Destruction Measures
Briefing Papers, 6 July 2016Igor Sutyagin
Dr Igor Sutyagin argues that while Russia's recent military modernisation constitutes an important change in its own right, the most significant change is not to the size of the Russian military but to the nature of its forces: instead of being primarily structured for defensive operations (in case of a hypothetical large-scale military conflict), the Russian armed forces are now gaining an offensive-oriented structure, with capabilities tailored for large-scale war.
Tags: NATO, Ukraine, Russia
Would a New SDSR Be Needed After a Brexit Vote?
Briefing Papers, 3 June 2016Malcolm Chalmers
Professor Malcolm Chalmers presents a personal argument stating that a UK decision to leave the EU would be as significant a shift in UK national strategy as the decision in the late 1960s to withdraw from bases East of Suez and, as a result, would necessitate a new Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).
Tags: Defence Spending, Brexit Briefings, European Union, Scottish Defence and Security Policy, Defence Policy, UK, UK Defence, Europe
Spending Matters: Defence and Security Budgets after the 2015 Spending Review
Briefing Papers, 13 May 2016Malcolm Chalmers
While the 2015 Spending Review confirmed a stabilisation in the total defence and security budget after a period of sharp decline, a new RUSI report reveals a substantial shift in the way this is being spent across the government.
Tags: Defence Management, Defence Policy, UK
UK Air Strikes in Syria: Time for a Decision?
Briefing Papers, 18 November 2015Malcolm Chalmers
In the aftermath of the Paris attacks, there may be an increasingly compelling case for extending UK counter-ISIS air strikes to Syria
Tags: UK Counter-terrorism, Syria, UK, UK Defence
Strategic Hedging in the Arabian Peninsula: The Politics of the Gulf-Asian Rapprochement
Whitehall Papers, 20 September 2018Jean-Loup Samaan
Offering a new perspective on the geopolitics of Gulf-Asian relations.
Tags: Pacific, Central and South Asia, Middle East and North Africa
Making Mogadishu Safe: Localisation, Policing and Sustainable Security
Whitehall Papers, 31 July 2018Alice Hills
Tailoring approaches to local conditions has been an important aspect of community security in Mogadishu.
Tags: Horn of Africa, Tackling Extremism, Domestic Security, National Security, Terrorism, Africa
The Spectre of a Westphalian Europe?
Whitehall Papers, 7 March 2018Luis Simón
European geopolitics is undergoing a major structural revision.
Tags: NATO, Germany, European Union, Russia, France, Defence Policy, UK, UK Defence, Europe
Russia's New Ground Forces: Capabilities, Limitations and Implications for International Security
Whitehall Papers, 28 June 2017Igor Sutaygin with Justin Bronk
Russia is undertaking a number of reforms to enhance the capabilities of its land forces in the twenty-first century.
Tags: Russia, Defence Policy, Land Forces, Europe
China's Eurasian Pivot: The Silk Road Economic Belt
Whitehall Papers, 31 May 2017Raffaello Pantucci and Sarah Lain
The modern Silk Road is a key component of China's political and economic strategy in Eurasia.
Tags: China, Pacific
NATO and the North Atlantic: Revitalising Collective Defence
Whitehall Papers, 6 March 2017Edited by John Andreas Olsen
NATO will need to respond effectively to Russia's return to the North Atlantic.
Tags: US Defence Policy, NATO, North America, Defence Policy, Maritime Forces, UK Defence, Europe
Poaching, Wildlife Trafficking and Security in Africa: Myths and Realities
Whitehall Papers, 30 November 2016Edited by Cathy Haenlein and M L R Smith
A multidimensional approach is needed to combat poaching and wildlife trafficking and the security and environmental challenges that they have created.
Tags: Global Security Issues, Africa
Indian Power Projection: Ambition, Arms and Influence (WHP 85)
Whitehall Papers, 27 December 2015Shashank Joshi
India’s power projection remains in a nascent stage while its threat perceptions continue to be dominated by local threats. But as the country’s power, interests and capabilities all grow, India may once more find itself using military force beyond its land borders
Tags: Aerospace, India, Defence Management, Defence Policy, Maritime Forces
Target Markets: North Korea’s Military Customers in the Sanctions Era (WHP 84)
Whitehall Papers, 8 December 2015Andrea Berger
Despite a decade-long UN arms embargo, North Korea continues to export conventional weapons to state and non-state clients around the world. Understanding the drivers of this trade is essential if the sanctions regime is to be strengthened.
Tags: North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Turkey's New Foreign Policy: Davutoglu, the AKP and the Pursuit of Regional Order (WHP 83)
Whitehall Papers, 30 December 2014Aaron Stein
For over a decade, the AKP has sought to remake Turkey's foreign policy. After a series of reversals in recent years, they are staying the course - and drawing a clear distinction between Turkey and the West
Tags: Turkey
Vostok’s Weak Optics Reveal Russia and China’s Fractured Relationship
Newsbrief, 21 September 2018Emily Ferris and Veerle Nouwens
The joint Russia–China Vostok exercises demonstrated some military cooperation between the two. However, the more significant event was the concomitant Eastern Economic Forum, an investment forum hosted in Russia’s Far East. Amid a depressed economy, Russia is attempting to encourage Chinese investment in the Far East, but many deals with China have fallen through and large-scale investment is...
Tags: International Security Studies, Global Security Issues, Land Forces
Pakistan’s Army Reverses the Great Game: The Oxus Meets the Indus
Newsbrief, 7 September 2018Kamal Alam
In 1947, Pakistan’s army inherited the default position and strategy of British India in opposing Russian influence and inroads into Afghanistan and Central Asia. Now, for the first time in 200 years, they have reversed the old British policy of confronting the Russians for control over Central Asia. Pakistan’s army now sees the Russians as their strategic partners.
Tags: Armed Forces, Global Strategy and Commitments, Military Sciences, International Responses, Military Personnel
Much Ado About the Nexus: Why Does the Crime/Terror Nexus Matter?
Newsbrief, 31 August 2018Florence 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.
Tags: Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Global Security Issues, Organised Crime, Terrorism
The Reality of China’s Maritime Capability
RUSI Journal, 30 August 2018Martin N Murply and Peter Roberts
Beijing has rapidly modernised and expanded its capabilities as it challenges the West in China’s neighbourhood.
Tags: US Defence Policy, Defence Policy, Maritime Forces
Understanding Modern Airpower
RUSI Journal, 30 August 2018John Andreas Olsen
Airpower professionals need a comprehensive understanding of airpower – from the technology to its relationship with the contemporary political, social and economic context.
Tags: Aerospace, Defence Policy
The League of Nations
RUSI Journal, 30 August 2018Lord Eustace Percy
This 1919 article makes the case for Britain’s participation in the then newly formed League of Nations.
Tags: The Great War, History
Changing Character, Changing Context: Enhancing Operational Airpower Employment in the Royal Air Force's Second Century
RUSI Journal, 30 August 2018Johnny Stringer
The British Air Vice-Marshal reflects on the future of the RAF.
Tags: Aerospace, Defence Policy
A Commentary on Lord Eustace Percy’s ‘The League of Nations’
RUSI Journal, 30 August 2018Stephen Reimer
Tags: The Great War, History
100 Years of the RAF: Perspectives on the Past and Future of Airpower
RUSI Journal, 30 August 2018Ewan Lawson
The last century has seen rapid change for airpower – with more innovation on the horizon for the next 100 years.
Tags: Aerospace, History
A Fleeting or Permanent Military Presence? The Revival of US Anti-Submarine Operations from Iceland
Newsbrief, 24 August 2018Valur 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.
Tags: Aerospace, NATO, International Security Studies, Military Sciences, Security Policy, Defence Policy, Global Security Issues, Maritime Forces, Military Personnel
RUSI Newsbrief Vol. 38, No. 6
Newsbrief, 17 August 2018This issue of Newsbrief includes articles on extremism in the UK, NATO spending, cybercrime and money laundering, and NATO's approach to artificial intelligence.
Tags:
The Night Wolves Settle in Slovakia, and the Kremlin With Them?
Newsbrief, 16 August 2018Sébastien 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
Tags: International Security Studies, Global Security Issues, Organised Crime
Australia’s Aegis Destroyer Will Improve its Defensive Capabilities
RUSI Defence Systems, 13 August 2018Debalina Ghoshal
The Royal Australian Navy is leveraging the latest Aegis combat system, SM-6 interceptor missiles and its new Hobart-class destroyers to limit its vulnerability to proliferating ballistic and cruise missile threats in the Indo-Pacific region. This has implications for interoperability with allies and deterrence.
Tags: Maritime Forces
Putin Already Won in Hosting Russia 2018: The FIFA World Cup and Sport Diplomacy
Newsbrief, 10 August 2018J 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...
Tags: Global Security Issues
NATO, Russia and Private Military and Security Companies: Looking into the Dark Reflection
RUSI Journal, 8 August 2018Christopher Spearin
The Atlantic Alliance should update its approach in light of Russia’s recent use of private military and security companies.
Tags: NATO
Closing Session: Admiral Sir Philip Jones - RUSI–The First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference 2018
Multimedia, 25 May 2018Tags:
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson at RUSI
Multimedia, 24 May 2018The Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson speaks at the RUSI-First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference
Tags:
International Day of UN Peacekeepers
Multimedia, 23 May 2018Rt Hon Mark Lancaster TD MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, and Sarah Fountain Smith, Deputy High Commissioner for Canada to the United Kingdom speak at International Day of United Nations...
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Could North Korea Walk Away from the Table
Multimedia, 22 May 2018Cristina Varriale, Research Analyst with RUSI’s Proliferation and Nuclear Policy Team, talks about if North Korea are going to walk away from negotiations over American and South Korean joint...
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Air Marshal Phil Osborn on Intelligence and Information Advantage in a Contested World
Multimedia, 18 May 2018Tags:
Cracking Down on China’s Distant Water Fishing Fleet: What Impacts Closer to Home?
Stabilising Pakistan’s Relations with the Gulf
Vostok - 2018