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RUSI covers a broad range of areas affecting defence and international security around the world. See here RUSI commentary, reports, events and videos organised by theme and region. Scroll below for the latest content.
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Failure to Lift Off: The UK’s Space Launch Ambitions
Commentary, 24 February 2021Alexandra Stickings
Creating an indigenous space launch capability is considered by many to be a key aspect of the UK’s space ambitions. Yet there are questions as to whether current plans recognise the challenges ahead.
Aerospace, Military Sciences, UK Integrated Review 2021, UK
Israeli Options for Direct Attacks on Iranian Nuclear Sites
Article, 23 February 2021Ehud Eilam
The Israeli government sees Iran’s nuclear programme as an existential threat. The Biden administration is attempting to re-open negotiations, but if these fail and Iran tries to produce a nuclear...
Iran, RUSI Defence Systems, Israel
On the Quest to Revive the Iran Nuclear Deal
Commentary, 23 February 2021Adnan Tabatabai
As US officials engineer the reinstatement of the 2015 nuclear deal, they should pay particular attention to Iran’s expectations of this process.
Iran's Nuclear Programme, Iranian Nuclear Pathways, Unpacking the MENA, Iran, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Prime Minister Outlines Vision for International Cooperation
Commentary, 22 February 2021Peter Ricketts
In a well-crafted speech to the Munich Security Conference, Boris Johnson went beyond ritual repetitions of ‘Global Britain’ slogans.
UK Integrated Review 2021, Brexit, UK
The Watchful Croupier: The UK Gambling Commission
Multimedia, 22 February 2021Preventing financial crime in gambling is no mean feat, particularly given the diversity of criminal methods both online and on land. Yet the UK has managed to stay on top of the threat, even...
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies
When the Chips Are Down: Russia’s Stance in the Current Azeri–Armenian Confrontation
Commentary, 6 October 2020Neil Melvin
As fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh continues into its second week, Russia faces a dilemma about how to respond to the crisis. And Turkey’s newly assertive approach is challenging Russia’s established...
International Security Studies, Russia
Why the Seams in Systems of Government Matter When It Comes to Managing China
Commentary, 5 October 2020Michael Shoebridge
Australia is an example of how to deal with Chinese attempts to bypass central governments, and engage with sub-state entities.
China
A Nagorno-Karabakh Scenario in the Balkans?
Commentary, 2 October 2020Harun Karčić
As the fighting rages in the South Caucasus, the citizens of another frozen conflict watch with unease.
Europe
The Militarisation of Iran’s Presidency: The IRGC and the 2021 Elections
Commentary, 1 October 2020Kasra Aarabi
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have always been influential. They are about to get even more so.
Iran
Soft Power in International Military Relations: A UK–Pakistan Case Study
Commentary, 30 September 2020Mary Hunter
Militaries can generate more than just hard power as the British and Pakistani armed forces demonstrate.
Pakistan, UK
Clamping the Wheel of the Money Launderers’ ‘Vehicle of Choice’: Reform of the UK Company Registry
Commentary, 29 September 2020Helena Wood
Proposed changes to the UK company formation regime are welcome but must be complemented by statutory reforms to the role of Companies House and sustainable resourcing.
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, UK
The Integrated Review Should Prioritise Understanding
Commentary, 28 September 2020Suzanne Raine
The UK government is consulting more widely. But it still needs to grapple with the broader task of transforming information into understanding.
UK Integrated Review 2021, UK, Information, Intelligence, Technology
Interception: Deterring Radicalisation During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Commentary, 25 September 2020Alex Guittard, Jared Shurin and Lilla Schumicky-Logan
A simple set of suggestions to counter terrorist and violent extremist groups’ recruitment efforts during the pandemic.
Tackling Extremism, Global Security Issues, Technology
The Limits of European Power? The Abraham Accords, Their Halting of Israel’s Annexation Plans and the European Response
Commentary, 24 September 2020Juliana Suess
The agreement between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain has created some diplomatic respite which the Europeans may be able to use to revive discussions about the fate of a future Palestinian state.
United States, Unpacking the MENA, Israel
Russia and Serbia: A Partnership Past its Prime
Commentary, 23 September 2020Vuk Vuksanovic
After an undiplomatic statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson about the Serbian President, Moscow apologised to Belgrade. Was this an isolated incident or a sign of a deeper rift...
RussiaPages
On the Cusp: Damian Collins
Multimedia, 7 July 2020Elisabeth Braw speaks with British member of parliament and disinformation expert Damian Collins about why disinformation and misinformation keep spreading and whether parliaments should legislate to...
Tags: Modern Deterrence
On the Cusp: Senator Angus King
Multimedia, 7 July 2020Elisabeth Braw speaks with Senator Angus King of Maine, one of two independent members of the US Senate and the co-chairman of the US Cyberspace Solarium Commission, about how to deter cyber attacks...
Tags: Modern Deterrence
Season Two: Framing Risk
Multimedia, 6 July 2020In this episode, host Isabella Chase speaks with art compliance consultant Rakhi Talwar, who unveils the realities and myths of financial crime in the art world, and asks whether recent regulations...
Tags: Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies
Will interviews Bettina Cadenbach
Multimedia, 3 July 2020Will, 17 years old, UK national, student at King’s School Canterbury, interviewing NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Bettina Cadenbach.
Tags: Military Sciences, Modern Deterrence
Western Way of War: Professor Frank Hoffman
Multimedia, 2 July 2020A wide ranging discussion in which Peter Roberts talks to Frank Hoffman about decisive battles, concepts of victory, strategic culture, divergence, societal risks, militaries as ubiquitous political...
Tags: Military Sciences
Sebastian interviews Major General Michele Risi
Multimedia, 30 June 2020Tags: Military Sciences, Modern Deterrence, NATO, International Institutions
Season Two: The Other Side of Sanctions
Multimedia, 29 June 2020In this week's episode of High Risk Thinking, host Emil Dall is joined by the team behind EuropeanSanctions.com, Maya Lester, QC of Brick Court Chambers and Michael O’Kane of Peters...
Tags: Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies
Alp interviews Nicola de Santis
Multimedia, 26 June 2020What's NATO all about three decades after the end of the Cold War? Alp, 18 years old, a Turkish citizen and a student at King's School, Canterbury, talks to NATO's Head of Engagements, Nicola de...
Tags: Modern Deterrence
Western Way of War: Admiral Sir Philip Jones
Multimedia, 25 June 2020Peter Roberts and Admiral Sir Philip Jones talk about why it is people that represent the competitive edge in the Western Way of Warfare - and have done for centuries, and how technology is...
Tags: Military Sciences
On the Cusp: Rear Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum
Multimedia, 25 June 2020Elisabeth Braw speaks with Rear Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum, the Swedish Navy's new commander, about the challenges of defending a country with an enormous coastline, about greyzone aggression, citizens...
Tags: Modern DeterrencePages
The Strategic Communications Issue: An Introduction
RUSI Journal, 5 May 2020Alastair Reed
Alastair Reed introduces this special issue of the RUSI Journal on strategic communications.
Tags:
Addressing Cyber-Enabled Information Operations
RUSI Newsbrief, 1 May 2020Gary Brown
Perhaps the greatest current cyberspace threat is cyber-enabled information operations, which strike at the narratives that underlie social cohesion. The long-term solution is education in critical thinking, but some legal changes could help blunt the effects in the short term.
Tags: Cyber, Information, Technology
Defence Data Realities
RUSI Defence Systems, 29 April 2020Roland McTeague
There is more to successful data exploitation than buying tools and expertise. It requires hard thinking and basic management. An analytics specialist offers some guidelines for data analytics success in Defence
Tags: Information
Military Safety: A Systems Perspective on Lariam
RUSI Journal, 29 April 2020Peta Bathie
The antimalarial poses dangers for the military performance of the UK armed forces.
Tags: UK, Law and Ethics, Military Personnel, Europe
Management of Cyber Security in Defence Supply Chains
RUSI Newsbrief, 24 April 2020Trevor Taylor and Rebecca Lucas
Cyber concerns and foreign direct investments have dragged reluctant UK and US defence authorities further into supply chain management.
Tags: Cyber, United States, UK, Defence Management, Technology
War Writing as Ego-Media
RUSI Journal, 17 April 2020Alisa Miller
Blogs were once a place for war writers to communicate calmly with their readers.
Tags: Information, Technology
Assessing the US–India Strategic Partnership in the Wake of the Trump Visit
RUSI Newsbrief, 17 April 2020Walter Ladwig
Bilateral cooperation between the US and India has expanded in key areas, but the relationship increasingly rests on unstable foundations.
Tags: United States, US Defence Policy, India, Global Security Issues
The Far-Right Radicalisation Pipeline and State War-Fighting Capacity
RUSI Defence Systems, 16 April 2020Jackson Oliver Webster
Online radicalisation is a key feature of contemporary far-right movements, and is not only a worrying domestic security concern for increasing numbers of Western countries, but points to deeper Defence vulnerabilities in future state-on-state crises.
Tags: Tackling Extremism, Information
Artificial Intelligence, Drone Swarming and Escalation Risks in Future Warfare
RUSI Journal, 16 April 2020James Johnson
Artificial intelligence on the battlefield challenges key assumptions which underpin military planning.
Tags: United States, Defence Policy, Maritime Forces, Technology
Turkey: A New Polar Power?
RUSI Newsbrief, 9 April 2020Duncan Depledge, Caroline Kennedy-Pipe and Ali Bilgic
Turkey is rapidly expanding its interests and activities in the Arctic and Antarctica as it seeks to become a polar power.
Tags: Turkey, Global Security Issues, Climate SecurityPages
Precision Strike in 21st Century Multidomain Operations
Conference, 13 May 2021The conduct of 21st century campaigns will be shaped in large measure by opponents’ use of reconnaissance strike complexes to achieve effects in depth. This conference will seek to examine both the...
Strategic Command Conference: Sharpening the UK Defence’s Edge in the 2020s
Events, 21 April 2021Held against the backdrop of the substantial financial settlement for Defence but also a deteriorating security situation and the broader impact of the pandemic, the UK Strategic Command Conference...
Future War and the Defence of Europe
Events, 1 April 2021A conversation with General John Allen, Lieutenant General Ben Hodges and Professor Dr Julian Lindley-French, to launch their latest book entitled ‘Future War and the Defence of Europe’.
Combat Air Power 2021: Competing Visions for the Future
Conference, 24 March 2021Evolving peer threats, new budgetary pressures and national industrial imperatives are fuelling fierce competition. This online conference will examine the key next-generation combat air approaches...
For Whose Benefit? Reviewing the Effectiveness of Current Approaches to Beneficial Ownership Disclosure.
Events, 22 March 2021Beneficial ownership information should be used to support greater financial system integrity. But what are the realities? How is the information applied and what does this mean for future...
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies
Failure to Lift Off: The UK’s Space Launch Ambitions
On the Quest to Revive the Iran Nuclear Deal
Prime Minister Outlines Vision for International Cooperation