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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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Seven Reasons Why the US Needs to Re-Engage with Turkey
Article, 5 March 2021Taras Kuzio
The election of President Joe Biden presents a strategic opportunity for the US to resume playing a more active role in the South Caucasus, Eurasia and the greater Middle East – if Washington and...
Turkey, United States, RUSI Newsbrief
Financing Right-Wing Extremism and Terrorism
Multimedia, 5 March 2021Following the recent wave of attacks by far-right extremists around the world, the task of throttling the financing of right-wing terrorism and extremism has seldom been more pressing. The CFCS’s...
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, AML/CTF
Diversity in the UK's Intelligence Agencies
Commentary, 5 March 2021Daniel Lomas
The UK’s intelligence agencies have been criticised for not reflecting the ‘makeup of modern Britain’. But significant improvements have been made.
UK, Intelligence
Fighting for the soul of Western militaries
Multimedia, 4 March 2021Manoeuvre warfare, the manoeuvrist approach, and manoeuverism as military concepts have been revered by Western militaries for half a century, while their lesser-known brethren concepts such as...
Military Sciences
The UK’s New Nuclear Warhead: Issues for Parliament
Commentary, 11 January 2021Matthew Harries
The UK’s replacement nuclear warhead programme needs better scrutiny. Here’s what Parliament could do.
Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, UK Integrated Review 2021, UK, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Are the UK and India Finally Getting Serious About Each Other?
Commentary, 8 January 2021Walter Ladwig
The UK and India are getting closer. But some of the key building blocks of the relationship still need to be laid.
UK Integrated Review 2021, India, UK
Sunshine Over the Gulf
Commentary, 7 January 2021Michael Stephens
The reconciliation between Qatar and its neighbours marks the end of a poorly considered diplomatic campaign and botched US policy. But the scars will endure.
Unpacking the MENA, The Gulf Region
Sir Brian Urquhart: A Great Public Servant for a Great International Cause
Commentary, 6 January 2021David Hannay
The passing of the British diplomat who played a key role in the establishment of the UN is an apt moment to reflect on the condition of the organisation and the future of its peacekeeping operations.
United Nations, UK
Chinese Drones in Serbian Skies
Commentary, 5 January 2021Vuk Vuksanovic
Get ready for a new development: Chinese weapons systems in Europe.
Aerospace, China, Global Security Issues, Technology, Europe
Sea Control and Power Projection: France’s Choice of a Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier
Commentary, 4 January 2021Patrick Chevallereau
Emmanuel Macron has decided on a successor to the Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
France, Maritime Forces
The Chinese Honey Money Moon in the Western Balkans
Commentary, 23 December 2020Harun Karčić
After an uneasy transition from communism to democracy, the Western Balkans becomes China’s playground.
China, Europe
Key Influencers on the US Policy on Iran
Commentary, 22 December 2020Corey Hinderstein
The incoming Biden administration will face a difficult challenge to quickly implement a new US policy toward Iran. The most effective path will be to work with those who agree, and engage those who...
Iran's Nuclear Programme, Iranian Nuclear Pathways, United States, Iran, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
When No Diplomatic Immunity is Good News: Equatorial Guinea v France in the International Court of Justice
Commentary, 21 December 2020Anton Moiseienko
A ruling by the International Court of Justice is good for the global fight against corruption, and bad news for those seeking refuge under claims of diplomatic immunity.
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, France, Law and Ethics, Africa
Cooperating in Tackling Extreme Right-Wing Ideologies and Terrorism
Commentary, 18 December 2020Raffaello Pantucci
Europe and the Biden administration in the US should be ready to expand their cooperation on combating right-wing violent movements.
United States, Tackling Extremism, UK, TerrorismPages

When Did We Stop Inventing Stuff?
Multimedia, 31 December 2020Disruptive technology has surpassed innovation as the de rigour buzzword for policy documents and is a mandatory phrase for successful funding applications. Militaries and defence organisations...
Tags: Military Sciences
Is the Era of Manoeuvre Warfare Dead?
Multimedia, 24 December 2020US military power since 1980 has been one of historical significance. The doctrine of rapid manoeuvre in the deep battle space, by elite armies of professional all-volunteer forces has defined the...
Tags: Military Sciences
Episode Eight: Freeports in the UK
Multimedia, 18 December 2020In February 2020, the UK government launched a consultation on its plans to establish up to 10 freeports in the UK. Alexandria Reid is joined by Richard Ballantyne from the British Ports Association...
Tags: Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, AML/CTF
Electronic Warfare and Cumulative Risk
Multimedia, 17 December 2020Above all other competitors, Russia is the pre-eminent authority in Electronic Warfare. The US military is trying to catch up with their generational deficit in this domain but there is little sign...
Tags: Military Sciences
Europe Turns to the Indo-Pacific
Multimedia, 16 December 2020Germany, France, and The Netherlands have published Indo-Pacific Strategies. The United Kingdom speaks of a strategic tilt to the region. But what does all this mean in practice?
Tags: Bridging the Oceans Podcast Series, China, International Security Studies, Navigating the Indo-Pacific, Japan, India, Maritime Forces, Pacific, Central and South Asia
Sir Mark Rowley on Policing
Multimedia, 11 December 2020Welcome back to Season Two of our 'In Context' podcast. In this episode, Karin talks to RUSI Distinguished Fellow Sir Mark Rowley QPM. Sir Mark discusses his incredible career in the police force and...
Tags: National Security
Episode Seven: Unexplained Wealth Orders: Where to Next
Multimedia, 11 December 20202020 was a roller coaster for Unexplained Wealth Orders in the UK! CFCS’s Anton Moiseienko takes stock of the setbacks and the triumphs with barristers Anita Clifford and James Mather and Alun...
Tags: Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, AML/CTF
Soothsaying, Prophecy and Luck
Multimedia, 10 December 2020Historically, the British have been averse to funding a standing army, and perhaps that feeling endures today, in the belief that it is possible to raise and train an army to meet any threat in a...
Tags: Military Sciences
Season Two: Festive Special
Multimedia, 9 December 20202020 – never a dull moment in financial crime! In this special end-of-year episode, CFCS’s Isabella Chase and RUSI colleagues Kayla Izenman, Emil Dall and Anton Moiseienko unpack the financial crime...
Tags: Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies
The Paradox Facing Navies
Multimedia, 3 December 2020Peter Roberts talks to Dr Sidharth Kaushal about naval warfare and capital ships in the era of Great Power Competition. Dr Kaushal describes a new form of strategic raiding, the historical precedence...
Tags: Military SciencesPages

Pakistan: What a New Kashmir Policy Might Look Like
RUSI Newsbrief, 20 November 2020Tim Willasey-Wilsey
Pakistan pays a heavy price for its claim to Kashmir: higher military spending, domestic instability, and exclusion from Indian markets and the transit trade with Central Asia. A more coherent Kashmir policy could be constructed at much reduced cost based on achievable objectives, a sober view of the national interest and the long-term needs of the Kashmiri people.
Tags: Pakistan, India
Investigating the Information Commissioner’s Office: Is It Fit for Purpose?
RUSI Newsbrief, 13 November 2020Anjuli Shere and Miranda Melcher
The power and independence of the Information Commissioner’s Office appear to have been overstated. Downing Street has built-in oversight of funds and coronavirus data is not being protected.
Tags: Coronavirus, UK, Information
Assessing the Options for Modernising the UK’s Heavy Armour
RUSI Newsbrief, 6 November 2020Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds
The UK has two options for modernising its armour: developing a Challenger 3 or procuring Leopard 2. The latter is an assured capability that will likely prove cheaper over the life of the programme. The former is risky but offers the UK an opportunity to develop valuable intellectual property.
Tags: Equipment and Acquisitions, UK
Missiles, Vessels and Active Defence: What Potential Threat Do the Russian Armed Forces Represent?
RUSI Journal, 5 November 2020Maren Garberg Bredesen and Karsten Friis
Russia's strategy is increasingly focusing on its naval capabilities.
Tags: Russia, Maritime Forces
Moving from Gender Analysis to Risk Analysis of Failing to Consider Gender
RUSI Journal, 5 November 2020Jody M Prescott
Militaries are used to thinking about how military operations have a gendered impact. They might need to start thinking about how not considering gender impacts military operations.
Tags: Military Personnel, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
A Perfect Storm? Coronavirus, Brexit, the Integrated Review, Scottish Separatism and the Future of Trident
RUSI Journal, 5 November 2020Andrew Futter and Bleddyn E Bowen
A cocktail of major events might have serious implications for the UK's nuclear deterrent.
Tags: Trident, UK, UK Defence
From the Deep State to the Main Stage: The IRGC and Iran’s 2021 Presidential Elections
RUSI Newsbrief, 30 October 2020Kasra Aarabi
Hossein Dehghan, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps heavyweight with strong ties to Hizbullah, has announced his candidacy for Iran’s 2021 elections. What would his presidency mean for Iran’s policies at home and abroad?
Tags: Iran
Avoiding the Reign of Artificial Stupidity
RUSI Defence Systems, 27 October 2020Jack Watling
Artificial intelligence in war may be a good servant, but it is likely to prove a terrible master, for while the character of stupidity may evolve, its nature remains immutable
Tags:
The UK and Illicit Finance: Still Part of the Problem, Not Part of the Solution
RUSI Newsbrief, 23 October 2020Tom Keatinge
The UK has lost its global leadership of the fight against illicit finance. The Johnson government must get the UK back on track.
Tags: UK
The Type 055: A Glimpse into the PLAN’s Developmental Trajectory
RUSI Defence Systems, 19 October 2020Sidharth Kaushal
The Type 055 Renhai destroyer, which displaces 12,000 tonnes, represents a significant advance in People’s Liberation Army Navy blue-water surface combatant vessel capabilities, in terms of both size and complexity
Tags: China, Maritime ForcesPages

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’.

UK PONI Workshop: Introduction to Nuclear Weapons Policy
Events, 25 March 2021UK Project on Nuclear Issues will host an introductory workshop covering the basics of nuclear weapons policy for early career professionals. The event will take place online over two half-days.

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...
Financing Right-Wing Extremism and Terrorism
Diversity in the UK's Intelligence Agencies
New UK Government Initiative to Support High-Risk, High-Reward Military Science Needs Refinement