Malcolm Chalmers
Deputy Director-General
Malcolm
Deputy Director-General
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The Proliferation and Nuclear Policy team provides detailed analysis and in-depth research relating to contemporary international nuclear dynamics.
The Proliferation and Nuclear Policy team's current research work focuses on: countering proliferation finance and the sanctions regimes imposed to address proliferation threats; the structure, operations, and evasion tactics of proliferation networks; North Korean illicit activities, including WMD and missile development and conventional arms trade; and CBRN security in India. In addition to these projects, the team regularly trains UK government and industry representatives in nuclear policy, and directs the UK Project on Nuclear Issues (UK PONI), an initiative to create a cross-generational network allowing young scholars and professionals to engage with established experts on contemporary nuclear issues. Furthermore, RUSI is the national lead for the high-level, US-UK-French Trilateral Nuclear Dialogues.
Outside of their ongoing research and engagement projects, the team maintains strong expertise in and publishes independent analysis on a wide variety of subjects, including:
- UK domestic nuclear debates;
- Nuclear energy issues;
- The characteristics and capabilities of nuclear weapon states;
- Deterrence dynamics, including between NATO and Russia;
- International disarmament and non-proliferation initiatives;
- The Iranian and North Korean nuclear programmes;
- Proliferation trends and tactics;
- Sanctions policies; and,
- Nuclear security.
Latest
Flagging down North Korea on the High Seas
Commentary, 29 March 2018
Sara Perlangeli
The tight economic noose around North Korea is being weakened by the regime’s use of flags of convenience by sanctions-evading ships.
Tags: United Nations, Japan, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
RUSI awarded grant to study diplomacy on the Korean peninsula
News, 9 March 2018
The Korea Foundation has awarded RUSI’s Proliferation and Nuclear Policy team a grant to explore a freeze-for-freeze agreement between North Korea, the US and regional stakeholders.
Tags: North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
The North Korean Nuclear Summit
Multimedia, 9 March 2018
Tom Plant, Director, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy programme at RUSI on the proposed nuclear summit between North Korea and the US
Tags: United States, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
"Bronk said that Putin’s announcement was designed to boost his ‘tough guy image’ and denied that the new technology meant his adversaries were facing a greater threat than before. ‘This announcement is domestically aimed,’ he said. ‘The current generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles are already incredibly difficult to intercept. ‘The US has no basic missile defence capacity which would put a dent in Russia’s strategic nuclear arsenal.’
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Putin could destroy UK and America without using new ‘invulnerable’ hypersonic nuclear weapons, military analyst warns
In The News, 5 March 2018 Tags: Aerospace, United States, Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, UK
"Malcolm Chalmers, an analyst with the UK-based defence think-tank the Royal United Services Institute, said he was sceptical about Mr Putin’s claims that Russia had developed a nuclear-powered cruise missile. But he added: “This is a very clear signal that the Russians remain determined to maintain strategic nuclear parity with the US. Part of his [Putin’s] popular appeal is that he has restored Russia’s position as a great power and their nuclear arsenal is their strongest credible indicator of that.”
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Russia to deploy ‘unstoppable’ nuclear weapons says Putin
In The News, 1 March 2018 Tags: Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
"Plant added that while 'Russia already has a ton of systems that can threaten and overwhelm U.S. missile defenses,' Putin’s announcement reflects his country’s concern that the U.S. missile shield could grow powerful enough to become a game-changer. 'The Russians have a genuine worry from their perspective about where U.S. missile defense might go,” Plant said. “So it totally makes sense for them to try and find ways to defeat not what it is now, but what it may become.' "
Putin shows new Russian nuclear weapons: ‘It isn’t a bluff’
In The News, 1 March 2018 Tags: Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear PolicyPages
Flagging down North Korea on the High Seas
Commentary, 29 March 2018Sara Perlangeli
The tight economic noose around North Korea is being weakened by the regime’s use of flags of convenience by sanctions-evading ships.
United Nations, Japan, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
The US and South Korea: A Fracturing Alliance?
Commentary, 27 June 2017Cristina Varriale
While there is a strong relationship between the US and South Korea, the new administrations in both capitals face challenges in adopting a common approach to Pyongyang.
North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
The Nuclear Outlook for the Next Government
Commentary, 15 June 2017Malcolm Chalmers, Tom Plant, Cristina Varriale and Emil Dall
Britain’s newly elected Parliament, due to be opened by the Queen next week, promises to be a busy one for nuclear issues. As the new government takes shape, the Proliferation and Nuclear Policy team at RUSI outlines some of the key decisions that it will have to make.
Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Trident, UK, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, UK Defence, Europe
Trump’s Response to North Korea’s Latest Missile Test
Commentary, 13 February 2017Emil Dall
US President Donald Trump’s reaction to North Korea’s latest missile launch is consistent with policies pursued by the Obama administration. But the president will need to be better prepared if Pyongyang crosses the red line and successfully develops a long-range missile capability.
US Defence Policy, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
Trump and Asia: Tokyo and Seoul Proliferation Prospects
Commentary, 5 December 2016Cristina Varriale
Amid worrying remarks from President-elect Donald Trump and North Korean provocations, there are growing fears that Japan and South Korea might seek to acquire a nuclear capability. However, this anxiety is misplaced, for it does not take into account the political and technical options available to Tokyo and Seoul.
United States, Japan, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, PacificPages
Countering Proliferation Finance: Implementation Guide and Model Law for Governments
Other Publications, 21 July 2017Andrea Berger and Anagha Joshi
This is the second of two guidance papers produced by RUSI on countering proliferation finance. It aims to assist governments seeking to strengthen their legal and institutional frameworks to counter...
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Sanctions, United Nations, North Korea, Other Publications, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
Transatlantic (Mis)alignment: Challenges to US-EU Sanctions Design and Implementation
Occasional Papers, 10 July 2017Tom 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...
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Iran's Nuclear Programme, RUSI International, Sanctions, United States, Occasional Papers, European Union, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Europe
A House Without Foundations: The North Korea Sanctions Regime and its Implementation
Whitehall Reports, 9 June 2017Andrea Berger
This report identifies the challenges of implementing sanctions on North Korea.
Sanctions, United Nations, Whitehall Reports, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, International Institutions, Pacific
Countering Proliferation Finance: An Introductory Guide for Financial Institutions
Other Publications, 19 April 2017Emil Dall, Tom Keatinge and Andrea Berger
This Guidance Paper is the first of two to be produced by RUSI on countering proliferation finance. It is aimed at financial institutions that have carried out little or no concerted thinking on...
Sanctions, Other Publications, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Implementing the Iran Nuclear Deal: Balancing Proliferation Finance Risk and Economic Opportunity
Occasional Papers, 19 December 2016Emil Dall, Andrea Berger and Tom Keatinge
Almost a year after the Iran Nuclear Deal came into effect, this paper examines how financial institutions have approached Iran after the lifting of sanctions. It also highlights the need to update...
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Iran's Nuclear Programme, Iran, Occasional Papers, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Europe, Middle East and North AfricaPages
Professor Matthew Jones on The Official History of the UK Strategic Nuclear Deterrent
Events, 15 March 2018With the support of the UK Project On Nuclear Issues, RUSI is pleased to host a discussion with Professor Matthew Jones, Head of the Department of International History, London School of Economics.
Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Trident, UK, UK Project on Nuclear Issues
Have I Got Nukes for You: The UK PONI Christmas Quiz
Events, 6 December 2017UK PONI is pleased to host its second ‘Have I Got Nukes for You’ annual Christmas quiz.
Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, UK Project on Nuclear Issues
UK PONI: The North Korea Nuclear Challenge
Events, 15 November 2017This UK PONI panel event discussed the political and technical developments of North Korea's nuclear programme to help understand the current crisis and how the international community can respond to...
Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, UK Project on Nuclear Issues
Sanctions 2018: Sanctions in an Era of Political Uncertainty
Events, 8 November 2017RUSI, in collaboration with the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and the Center on Law and Security, NYU School of Law, will convene experts to examine and discuss the sanctions landscape...
National Security and Resilience Studies, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, National Security
CANCELLED Disarmament after the Nuclear Ban Treaty
Events, 19 October 2017The first UK PONI event in Edinburgh will consider the future of international disarmament efforts and ways forward.
Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, UK Project on Nuclear IssuesPages
The North Korean Nuclear Summit
Multimedia, 9 March 2018Tom Plant, Director, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy programme at RUSI on the proposed nuclear summit between North Korea and the US
Tags: United States, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
President Trump's Nuclear Button Tweet
Multimedia, 3 January 2018 Tags: United States, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
The Nuclear Ban Treaty in 2018
Multimedia, 21 December 2017Tom Plant, Director of RUSI's Proliferation and Nuclear Policy programme discusses the prospects for the Nuclear Ban treaty in 2018
Tags: Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Dealing with the Latest North Korea Missile Threat
Multimedia, 11 August 2017Following a war of words between US President Donald Trump and the Pyongyang regime, are we at risk of escalation? RUSI experts Tom Plant, Cristina Varriale and Emil Dall discuss.
Tags: United States, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Cristina Varriale on the North Korea Missile Tests
Multimedia, 6 July 2017Watch Cristina Varriale, a research analyst at RUSI's Nuclear and Proliferation programme discuss North Korea's latest missile test on BBC World News.
Tags: North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, UK Project on Nuclear Issues
Could Russian S-400s Protect Syria Against Cruise Missiles?
How Can Social Media Companies Stop the Spread of Fake News?
Syria and Salisbury: The Continuing Battle to Maintain Trust in Evidence of Illegal Use of Chemical Weapons