Better Together: Brexit, the E3, and the Future of Europe’s Approach towards Iran

Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, Thierry Coville, David Ramin Jalilvand

The paper provides insights into what London, Paris and Berlin think about the prospects of survival of the E3 format in light of Brexit; it also explored their views as to what the future of Europe’s approach towards Iran and the nuclear deal will be moving forward.

Known Unknowns: Plugging the UK’s Intelligence Gaps on Money Laundering Involving Professional Services Providers

Helena Wood, David Artingstall, Haylea Campbell and Anton Moiseienko

This paper examinines the structural, systemic and cultural issues in the UK’s anti-money-laundering regime as it relates to information and intelligence flows to and from the non-financial sectors of legal services, accountancy service providers, property and estate agencies, and trust and company service providers.

A Defence Industrial Strategy for the UK

John Louth and Trevor Taylor

This paper seeks to build on the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) ‘Refreshing Defence Industrial Policy’ of December 2017 by generating eight points that would be key elements of a strategy to implement its intent.

Aid, Security, and Britain’s Role in the World: Proposals for Coherent Government Action

Victoria Metcalfe-Hough and Malcolm Chalmers, with Alina Rocha Menocal, Hanna Nomm and David Watson

A briefing paper on how to promote a more integrated and effective UK government approach to ensuring greater international stability and prosperity.

Defining Dialogue: How to Manage Russia–UK Security Relations – Part 2

Malcolm Chalmers, Andrey Kortunov, Sarah Lain and Maria Smekalova

Despite tensions and mistrust between the UK and Russia, there are still ways to manage security relations between the two countries. Policymakers on both sides should take note.

Air Forces as Weapons Systems

Justin Bronk

Report on the one-day RUSI conference that focused on exploring whether air forces can, or indeed should, seek to fight like a single weapons system. Delegates heard from the US Air Force and Royal Air Force, alongside representatives from multiple air forces in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Urban Warfare: Past, Present, Future

Report on a RUSI conference on urban warfare in conjunction with the Institution of Royal Engineers and the Royal Engineers Historical Society on the 75th Anniversary of the German capitulation at Stalingrad.

Iran and the West after the Nuclear Deal: High Hopes, Low Returns

Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi

Report on two days of meetings, co-hosted by RUSI and the British Council, of UK- and Iran-based scholars who discussed the state of Iran–West relations following the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Mind the Gap: Comparing Foreign Policy Attitudes of Security Elites and the General Public

Catarina P Thomson

This report offers insights into the differences and commonalities that exist between security elites and the general public, identifying what issues each group considers to be critical threats to the UK.

Decision Time: The National Security Capability Review 2017–2018 and Defence

Malcolm Chalmers

This report looks at the implications of the UK government's decision to take the defence elements out of the National Security Capability Review, which has been underway since July 2017. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has made clear that his 'hope' is that the 'Modernising Defence Programme’ (MDP) will be published before the House of Commons rises for the summer recess in July 2018.