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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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We Need to Relearn How to do Deterrence
Commentary, 5 December 2019Jack Watling
Governments and military planners are obsessed with how much leverage adversaries can exert with coercive measures that don’t risk all-out war. But to win in the ‘grey zone’ requires being proactive...
Military Sciences, UK, Global Security Issues
NATO Engages Press Release
News, 4 December 2019KEYPOINTSCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “NATO has survived because we’ve always had frank conversations.”UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: ‘‘NATO is a civilian-led alliance of...

Episode 07: Missing links
Multimedia, 4 December 2019In this episode of the Suspicious Transaction Report, host Isabella Chase and guests consider the missing links in various financial crime problems. Isabella is joined by Becky Marriott from Tide to...
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, AML/CTF
The British Public Still Believes in NATO – Even if Most Cannot Say What It Does
Commentary, 3 December 2019Joel Rogers de Waal
New YouGov/RUSI polling portrays a kind of ignorant faith in NATO but also significant doubts that UK defence capability is fit for modern purpose.
NATO, Defence Policy, UK, International Institutions, National Security, UK Defence, Europe
Chinese Military Innovation in the AI Revolution
Article, 29 November 2019Elsa B Kania
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army is pursuing military innovation through investment in emerging technologies.
China, RUSI Journal, Technology
Ministers Meet to Discuss Middle East in Warsaw Conference Beset by Divisions in the West
Commentary, 21 February 2019Wojciech Pawlus
Poland has improved its bilateral strategic links with the US by hosting an American-inspired conference on the future of the Middle East. But the conference did nothing to improve Western coherence.
Iran's Nuclear Programme, United States, US Defence Policy, Iran, Israel, Global Security Issues, Europe, Middle East and North Africa
A New Generation of Intelligence: National Security and Surveillance in the Age of AI
Commentary, 19 February 2019Alexander Babuta
Engaging in open debate will be crucial for the UK Intelligence Community to gain public trust regarding the use of artificial intelligence for national security purposes.
Cyber, Equipment and Acquisitions, Terrorism and Conflict, Future UK Cyber Security Strategy Project, UK, Information, Securing Britain, Intelligence, National Security, Technology, UK Defence
Upholding Stability in the Middle East: An Opportunity for Russia–Europe Cooperation?
Commentary, 14 February 2019Andrei Kortunov and Malcolm Chalmers
No single power can ‘fix’ the current turmoil in the Middle East. Still, there may be scope for Russia–Europe cooperation in managing the region’s ills.
Civil–Military Relations, RUSI International, UK-Russia Security Dialogue, Russia, Defence Management, Defence Policy, Global Security Issues, National Security, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, Resilience, Europe, Middle East and North Africa
Germany Calling: The Bundeswehr, Acquisition and a Broken Narrative
Commentary, 13 February 2019John Louth
Germany’s armed forces are beset by problems, and procurement difficulties are proving to be intractable.
Defence, Industries and Society, Germany, Defence Management, Defence Policy, Military Personnel, Europe
To Understand the INF Treaty’s Demise, Look to the US Republican Party
Commentary, 8 February 2019Lincoln Pigman
The INF Treaty’s demise owes to not only Russian violations but also a fundamental shift in the way the current US administration and much of the Republican Party view arms control.
United States, US Defence Policy, Americas, Russia, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Europe
Charting Britain’s Moves in the South China Sea
Commentary, 6 February 2019John Hemmings
A British naval presence in the South China Sea strengthens global security and Britain’s global role. But it must be matched with a more systematic approach to the region, and to China’s defiance of...
China, Defence Policy, Global Security Issues, Maritime Forces, UK Defence, Pacific
Resilience of Necessity in the Baltics
Commentary, 31 January 2019Ojars Eriks Kalnins
The fact that the three Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia managed to establish, lose, and restore their sovereign statehood during the 20th Century is no guarantee they will be able to...
Civil–Military Relations, Modern Deterrence, NATO
A Hard Hardware Breach
Commentary, 29 January 2019Tom Ascott
Western governments are shedding their inhibitions about naming and shaming states suspected of infiltrating their critical national infrastructure. This is a good step, but should be just the...
Cyber, UK, Intelligence, Technology, Europe
Sudan’s Protests: Something New?
Commentary, 24 January 2019Michael Jones
A wave of protests sweeping the country may, unlike previous crises, be quite significant.
Horn of Africa, Terrorism and Conflict, Sudan, STRIVE - Horn of Africa, Global Security Issues, National Security, Resilience, Africa
One Step at a Time: Limited Reform of UK’s Limited Partnerships
Commentary, 22 January 2019Anton Moiseienko
The UK government is proposing to tighten procedures for establishing limited partnerships, in an effort to close an avenue for money laundering. This is a welcome move, but perhaps not sufficient.
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, AML/CTF, UK, Organised CrimePages

Manchester Attack - Initial Reaction
Multimedia, 25 May 2017RUSI experts Raffaello Pantucci and Emily Winterbotham took part in a live conversation discussing the Manchester attacks that took place in Manchester on Monday 23 May.
Tags: Terrorism and Conflict, International Security Studies, Terrorism, UK, Terrorism
The WannaCry Ransomware Attack – Following the Money
Multimedia, 16 May 2017Tom Keatinge, Director, Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies at RUSI, on the need for a global financial crime strategy to counter cybercriminals following a major ransomware attack on 12...
Tags: Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Cyber, AML/CTF, Future UK Cyber Security Strategy Project, Global Security Issues, Technology
The New South Korean President
Multimedia, 12 May 2017On 9 May 2017, South Korea voters elected Moon Jae-in as president. RUSI research analyst Cristina Varriale assesses the policies of the new leader and what this means for relations with North Korea.
Tags: North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
North Korea's Latest Failed Missile Tests Escalates Tensions
Multimedia, 21 April 2017Cristina Varriale, Research Analyst in Nuclear and Proliferation analyses the implications of North Korea's latest missile test.
Tags: North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
The UK General Election 2017 - Initial Reaction
Multimedia, 18 April 2017RUSI Deputy Director General Professor Malcolm Chalmers and Associate Director Dr Jonathan Eyal discuss the news that there will be a general election in June 2017.
Tags: UK
US Air Strikes Against Syrian Air Base
Multimedia, 7 April 2017Justin Bronk, Research Fellow at RUSI assesses the US airstrike against a Syrian airbase following the Syrian government's chemical attack in the Idlib province.
Tags: Aerospace, Military Sciences, Syria
Westminster Attack: Encryption and Intelligence Gathering
Multimedia, 28 March 2017Ewan Lawson, Senior Research Fellow examines the debate around WhatsApp encryption and whether the app should be more freely available to law enforcement.
Tags: UK Counter-terrorism, Military Sciences, UK, Terrorism
Khalid Masood: Analysing the Latest Findings on the Westminster Attacker
Multimedia, 24 March 2017Dr Karin von Hippel, Director General of RUSI analyses the latest developments on the Westminster attack and profile of the attacker for the BBC News channel.
Tags: UK, Radicalisation and Countering Violent Extremism, Lone-Actor Terrorism, Terrorism
Jennifer Cole on the Use of VX Nerve Agent Against Kim Jong-Nam
Multimedia, 24 February 2017RUSI Senior Research Fellow Jennifer Cole examines the implications of the alleged use of VX Nerve agent against North Korean figure Kim Jong-Nam in Malaysia.
Tags: North Korea, Terrorism and Conflict, Resilience, Pacific
Anand Menon: Britain's Place in the World After Brexit
Multimedia, 26 January 2017Theresa May's visit to meet Donald Trump signals a new emphasis by the the UK government to seek favourable trade deals with the United States as it prepares to leave the European Union. Dr Jonathan...
Tags: United States, Brexit Briefings, UK, EuropePages

Reassessing the 2003–17 Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands
RUSI Journal, 25 April 2019Jon Fraenkel
The pioneering mission might not have been as successful as commonly believed.
Tags: Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
Book Review: The Secret World: A History of Intelligence
RUSI Journal, 25 April 2019Neil Kent
Neil Kent reviews The Secret World: A History of Intelligence, by Christopher Andrew.
Tags: History, Intelligence
Trump, NATO and the Future of Europe’s Defence
RUSI Journal, 25 April 2019Benjamin Schreer
The US’s support for NATO is deeply ingrained in the country’s political system.
Tags: United States, NATO, European Union
Book Review: Byron to Bin Laden: A History of Foreign War Volunteers
RUSI Journal, 25 April 2019Andrew Glazzard
Andrew Glazzard reviews Byron to Bin Laden: A History of Foreign War Volunteers, by Nir Arielli.
Tags: History
Achieving Lethal Effects by Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Opportunities and Limitations
RUSI Journal, 25 April 2019Jack Watling and Nicholas Waters
A considered evaluation of the potential of SUAVs is needed.
Tags: Armed Forces, UK, Technology
Book Review: Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy, 1945–1975
RUSI Journal, 25 April 2019Daniel Sleat
Daniel Sleat reviews Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy, 1945–1975, by Max Hastings
Tags: United States, History
Editor's Note: RUSI Journal, January 2019
RUSI Journal, 25 April 2019Emma De Angelis
Editor Dr Emma De Angelis introduces the January 2019 edition of the RUSI Journal.
Tags:
Book Review: The Internationalists: How a Radical Plan to Outlaw War Remade the World
RUSI Journal, 25 April 2019Andre Stemmet
Andre Stemmet reviews The Internationalists: How a Radical Plan to Outlaw War Remade the World, by Oona A Hathaway and Scott J Shapiro
Tags: International Responses, History
The UK’s Arctic Defence Strategy: Negotiating the Slippery Geopolitics of the UK and the Arctic
RUSI Journal, 25 April 2019Duncan Depledge, Klaus Dodds and Caroline Kennedy-Pipe
For the UK, this once-benign region is heating up.
Tags: Defence Policy, UK
Book Review: The Lion and the Eagle: The Interaction of the British and American Empires, 1783–1972
RUSI Journal, 25 April 2019Dusan Fischer
Dusan Fischer reviews The Lion and the Eagle: The Interaction of the British and American Empires, 1783–1972, by Kathleen Burke
Tags: United States, UK, Global Security Issues, HistoryPages

Breakfast Briefing: The New British Army Operating Concept
Events, 17 June 2020An exclusive breakfast briefing with Dr Jack Watling, Research Fellow in Land Warfare, RUSI.

Breakfast Briefing - UK Security Policy After Brexit
Events, 18 March 2020An exclusive breakfast briefing with Professor Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director-General, RUSI.

RUSI Missile Defence and Space Conference 2020
Events, 26 February 2020Time-Sensitive Targets, Space and Missile Defence

Breakfast Briefing: Countering Cyber Risk - Threats, Responses and Future Trends
Events, 5 February 2020An exclusive breakfast briefing with The Lord Evans of Weardale KCB DL, Distinguished Fellow, RUSI and former Director General of the British Security Service (MI5).

Douglas Haig Fellowship Lecture: Haig and the Aftermath, 1919
Events, 31 January 2020A lecture by Professor John Bourne, Honorary Professor of First World War Studies, University of Wolverhampton.
Episode 07: Missing links
We Need to Relearn How to do Deterrence
The British Public Still Believes in NATO – Even if Most Cannot Say What It Does