Europe

On Military Advice

Lawrence Freedman

The events before the Falklands War in 1982 and the Iraq War in 2003 illustrate the importance of high-quality military advice to civilian leaders.

Still in a Haze: Illicit Cigarette Trade Under the Spotlight

Cathy Haenlein and Alexander Babuta

On the eve of hearings in the US Congress, RUSI research highlights the persistent problem of cigarette smuggling and suggests a more coherent approach to tackling the issue.

""The process, the language, the way in which he (Trump) seems very ready to use quite harsh language against allies and more reluctant to use harsh (language) against Russia makes people think, well a few months down the line, are we going to see an American initiative on Syria, or Russia, or on Ukraine, or somewhere else agreed with the Kremlin before it’s been discussed with people in Paris, or Berlin or indeed London.” "

Pushing America First, Trump Seeks Common Ground in France

Transatlantic (Mis)alignment: Challenges to US-EU Sanctions Design and Implementation

Tom Keatinge, Emil Dall, Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi and Sarah Lain

This paper argues that despite recent coordination on sanctions against Russia and Iran, there is still a misalignment over how the US and the EU approaches sanctions. The different policymaking processes on both sides of the Atlantic impact the design, implementation and eventual lifting of sanctions regimes. The paper also highlights the crucial role that the private sector plays in the...

Russia and the West: Whose ‘Rules-Based Order’ Is It Anyway?

Sarah Lain

A speech by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is a timely reminder of the chasm between how Moscow and many Western policymakers view the world order.

Talk is Cheap: Action Needed on Tackling Organised Crime’s Finances

Helena Wood

The British government’s strategy for tackling the finances of organised crime merits a rethink.