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.
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Latest
Is This the End of Nuclear Arms Control?
Newsbrief, 7 November 2018
Malcolm Chalmers and Dmitry Stefanovich
The articles below were informed by a roundtable discussion in London in October 2018 between the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and RUSI to discuss the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. While the discussion revealed some differences in perspective, it was agreed that expert dialogue can play an important role in informing the policy positions of all governments concerned.
Tags: UK-Russia Security Dialogue, United States, Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
"Back then “you had short notice systems and distrust on both sides,” said Tom Plant, a former specialist at the U.K.’s nuclear warhead design facility, and now director of proliferation and nuclear policy at the Royal United Services Institute, a London think tank. A return to a world without arms control would be “hideously dangerous.” "
As Trump Moves to Scrap Nuclear Treaty, Europe Asks: Why So Fast?
In The News, 25 October 2018 Tags: United States, Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Europe
The Impending Demise of the INF Treaty: Britain Has a Job on Its Hands
Commentary, 22 October 2018
James Cameron
President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US will withdraw from a landmark nuclear treaty comes at a bad time for the UK. Still, if damage to British security is to be limited, deft diplomatic handling from London will be required.
Tags: United States, US Defence Policy, Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
The US-Russia Nuclear Treaty Under Threat
Multimedia, 21 October 2018
After reports that the USA may with from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, Professor Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director General of the Royal United Services Institute speaks to BBC news offering his assessment.
Tags: United States, Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
The 2018 UK PONI Papers
Conference Reports, 18 October 2018
Edited by Cristina Varriale
The 2018 UK PONI Papers examine contemporary civil and military nuclear issues and are written by emerging experts from academia, government and industry who presented at the 2018 UK Project on Nuclear Issues (UK PONI) Annual Conference.
Tags: China, United States, Defence, Industries and Society, UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Trident, UK, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Security on the Korean Peninsula: The Latest from RUSI
Newsbrief, 4 October 2018
Tom Plant and Cristina Varriale
A flurry of recent activity on the North Korean diplomatic front has kept researchers in the Proliferation and Nuclear Policy programme at RUSI extremely busy over the past few months. Their latest research findings indicate that policymakers should focus on pursuing small gains over a grand bargain, as well as balancing Tokyo’s long-term view and scepticism of China with Seoul’s focus on short-...
Tags: China, United States, Japan, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Asia, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear PolicyPages
The Impending Demise of the INF Treaty: Britain Has a Job on Its Hands
Commentary, 22 October 2018James Cameron
President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US will withdraw from a landmark nuclear treaty comes at a bad time for the UK. Still, if damage to British security is to be limited, deft diplomatic handling from London will be required.
United States, US Defence Policy, Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
All to Play For: Sports Diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula
Commentary, 25 September 2018Tom Plant
The two halves of the Korean peninsula have engaged in sports diplomacy before. But latest agreements between the leaders of the two countries have taken this diplomacy much further, with broader implications for the security of the region.
North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
A Final Nail in the Coffin of the Iran Nuclear Deal?
Commentary, 2 July 2018Tom Keatinge
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) avoided a decision to return Iran to its blacklist of countries not doing enough to combat money laundering. Iran’s continued litany of financial crime failings further undermines the future of the country’s nuclear deal with Western governments.
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Iran's Nuclear Programme, United States, AML/CTF, Iran, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, International Institutions
Collateral Damage: President Trump’s Decision on Iran and Its Impact on Europe
Commentary, 9 May 2018Emil Dall
President Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the Iran nuclear agreement, and reimpose sanctions against Iran, will matter most in Europe.
Iran's Nuclear Programme, United States, Iran, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Sanctions, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Europe
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.
Counter-Proliferation Finance, United Nations, Japan, Proliferation and Nuclear PolicyPages
The 2018 UK PONI Papers
Conference Reports, 18 October 2018Edited by Cristina Varriale
The 2018 UK PONI Papers examine contemporary civil and military nuclear issues and are written by emerging experts from academia, government and industry who presented at the 2018 UK Project on...
China, United States, Defence, Industries and Society, UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Conference Reports, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Trident, UK, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Countering Proliferation Finance: Model Law Second Edition
Other Publications, 2 October 2018Anagha Joshi
This is the updated version of the model law from the previous guidance paper produced by RUSI on countering proliferation finance. It aims to assist governments seeking to strengthen their legal and...
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Counter-Proliferation Finance, United Nations, Other Publications, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Underwriting Proliferation: Sanctions Evasion, Proliferation Finance and the Insurance Industry
Occasional Papers, 9 July 2018Emil Dall and Tom Keatinge
This paper seeks to establish the baseline for a discussion on proliferation finance in the (re)insurance sector. The insurance industry can play a vital role in contributing to the successful...
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Counter-Proliferation Finance, United Nations, Occasional Papers, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Sanctions, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
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, Counter-Proliferation Finance, 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, United States, Occasional Papers, European Union, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Sanctions, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, EuropePages
Leadership in the Non-Proliferation Treaty
Events, 20 November 2018This panel event will launch the report of a recent private RUSI workshop that discussed leadership in the context of the NPT and how the UK could contribute.
UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
UK PONI Roundtable: The INF Treaty
Events, 12 November 2018This roundtable will discuss the recent U.S. announcement to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and implications this may have for the future of deterrence and arms...
UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, UK, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
UK PONI Roundtable: Denuclearising North Korea
Events, 31 October 2018This roundtable will discuss the current efforts of engagement to reduce and remove North Korea’s nuclear weapons, responses from regional governments and the future of diplomacy.
North Korea, UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
UK PONI Nuclear Technology Workshop
Events, 29 October 2018UK Project on Nuclear Issues will host a one-day introductory workshop covering the basics of nuclear technology for early career professionals.
UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
UK PONI Annual Conference 2018
Conference, 7 June 2018UK Project on Nuclear Issues (UK PONI) Annual Conference is the premier national forum for the nuclear policy community to consider salient issues in the field and promote the emergence of a new...
UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear PolicyPages
The US-Russia Nuclear Treaty Under Threat
Multimedia, 21 October 2018After reports that the USA may with from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, Professor Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director General of the Royal United Services Institute speaks to BBC news...
Tags: United States, Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
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
Take the Money and Run: The Role of Asset Confiscation Under the New Serious and Organised Crime Strategy
Social Media and Social Problems: A Complex Link
India and Russia: Ties that Bind