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United States
Articles, analysis and events on the United States from the Royal United Services Institute.
"Advances in deepfake technology have led to the emergence of a new picture of how doctored material will be used in disinformation campaigns. While safeguards ensure that manipulated videos may not be such a problem at the highest levels of security and defence, lower levels ‐ such as local elections ‐ remain vulnerable to malign actors. At such levels, deepfakes can be distributed using social media channels to target unsuspecting victims. Current solutions only protect individuals who are prominent enough to be covered by the mainstream media, and not enough is being done by governments or social media companies to protect ordinary users from coordinated inauthentic activity online. However, with more images and videos of ourselves online than ever before, anyone can be a victim of a disinformation campaign. As deepfakes become easier to make, no one is safe ‐ hyper-localized manipulation will create problems for democratic institutions that have not yet been fully understood.
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Microfake: How small-scale deepfakes can undermine society
In The News, 7 July 2020 Tags: Cyber, United States, Americas, UK, Intelligence, Resilience, Technology, Europe
Open Skies Clouded by Sham and Ambiguity
Commentary, 2 July 2020
Andrei Kelin
Tags: United States, Russia, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Recapitalisation of the US Coast Guard: New Ships for the White, Red and Black Hull Fleets
RUSI Defence Systems, 30 June 2020
Edward Lundquist
The US Coast Guard is in the midst of a major fleet reset, with new and more capable platforms to replace an aging fleet of patrol ships, inland tenders and icebreakers.
Tags: United States, Domestic Security, Maritime Forces
Strengthening Arms Control Through Multilateralism, and Multilateralism Through Arms Control
Commentary, 19 June 2020
Tomáš Petříček
The forthcoming Monday meeting in Vienna between US Special Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov should herald the start of a new arms control process, and every small step counts.
Tags: United States, Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
India and the ‘Quad Plus’ Dialogue
Commentary, 12 June 2020
Jagannath Panda
The ‘Quad Plus’ dialogue serves India’s broader strategic interests.
Tags: China, United States, India
Between the Head and the Heart: Taiwan’s Careful Balancing Act
Commentary, 9 June 2020
Veerle Nouwens
Taiwan’s leader has proven to be a deft political player and a great political survivor. But she will need all her skills to navigate the island through the stormy seas which lie ahead.
Tags: China, United States, International Security StudiesPages
Open Skies Clouded by Sham and Ambiguity
Commentary, 2 July 2020Andrei Kelin
United States, Russia, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Strengthening Arms Control Through Multilateralism, and Multilateralism Through Arms Control
Commentary, 19 June 2020Tomáš Petříček
The forthcoming Monday meeting in Vienna between US Special Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov should herald the start of a new arms control process, and every small step counts.
United States, Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
India and the ‘Quad Plus’ Dialogue
Commentary, 12 June 2020Jagannath Panda
The ‘Quad Plus’ dialogue serves India’s broader strategic interests.
China, United States, India
Between the Head and the Heart: Taiwan’s Careful Balancing Act
Commentary, 9 June 2020Veerle Nouwens
Taiwan’s leader has proven to be a deft political player and a great political survivor. But she will need all her skills to navigate the island through the stormy seas which lie ahead.
China, United States, International Security Studies
The Open Skies Treaty and Prospects for European Confidence-Building Measures
Commentary, 22 May 2020Sarah Martin and Nick Reynolds
Officials from Donald Trump’s administration have now announced that the US will formally withdraw in six months from the Open Skies Treaty. The viability of multilateral confidence- and security-building measures is called into question.
Aerospace, United States, US Defence Policy, Russia, Military Sciences, Defence Policy, Intelligence, EuropePages
Dr Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi on the Iran Nuclear Deal
Multimedia, 18 June 2019Dr Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi talks to BBC News about the Iran Nuclear Deal. One year after the U.S. withdrew from the Iran Deal, Iran is looking to scale back its commitment.
Tags: United States, Iran, Americas, Germany, International Security Studies, Russia, France, UK, Europe, Middle East and North Africa
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
US Sanctions on Russia
Multimedia, 10 August 2018Emily Ferris, RUSI Research Fellow, on the new US sanctions on Russia and what the Russian response might look like.
Tags: United States, International Security Studies, Russia
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
That's No Moon... That's A Tesla
Multimedia, 9 February 2018The successful and spectacular inaugural launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy this week not only captured public imaginations with its ground-breaking double booster recovery and quirky payload, but also...
Tags: Aerospace, United States, Air Power and Technology, Terrorism and ConflictPages
Recapitalisation of the US Coast Guard: New Ships for the White, Red and Black Hull Fleets
RUSI Defence Systems, 30 June 2020Edward Lundquist
The US Coast Guard is in the midst of a major fleet reset, with new and more capable platforms to replace an aging fleet of patrol ships, inland tenders and icebreakers.
United States, RUSI Defence Systems, Domestic Security, Maritime Forces
Pakistan and the Rogue State Narrative
RUSI Newsbrief, 5 June 2020Don McLain Gill and Jovito Jose P Katigbak
Despite behaviour that often violates international norms, Pakistan has managed to maintain positive relationships with major Western powers.
Pakistan, United States, RUSI Newsbrief, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Terrorism
The Strategic Logic of Malaysia’s Muted Response to the South China Sea Standoff
RUSI Newsbrief, 29 May 2020Adam Leong Kok Wey
Malaysia’s response to the latest South China Sea standoff shows a small state practising astute grand strategy.
China, United States, RUSI Newsbrief, Maritime Forces
Assessing Force Requirements for a Military Response to Iranian Actions
RUSI Newsbrief, 7 May 2020Kenneth Freeman
If the US was to invade Iran, how much money, equipment and personnel would be required? This article suggests that the costs would be prohibitive and other methods of managing relations with Iran...
United States, US Defence Policy, Iran, RUSI Newsbrief, Global Security Issues
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.
Cyber, Cyber Security, United States, Defence, Industries and Society, RUSI Newsbrief, Defence Management, UK, TechnologyPages
Reflections on D-Day: The Battle for Normandy
Events, 30 May 2019A panel discussion to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the Battle for Normandy.
United States, UK, History, Europe
Breaking the Ice – Russia and the West in 2019
Events, 9 January 2019Our next Under 35's Forum event will be a round table briefing followed by discussion led by RUSI's Russia and Eurasia Research Fellow, Emily Ferris
United States, Russia, UK
General Stephen Townsend to Deliver the Annual Kermit Roosevelt Lecture 2018
Events, 15 June 2018General Stephen J. Townsend, commander of the US Army Training and Doctrinal Command will deliver the 72nd Annual Kermit Roosevelt Lecture.
United States, Military Sciences, UK
Transatlantic Traumas: A discussion with Professor Stanley R. Sloan on the future of the West
Events, 16 April 2018Professor Stanley R. Sloan will discuss his latest book, Transatlantic traumas: Has illiberalism brought the West to the brink of collapse?, which examines the external threats and internal...
RUSI International, United States, Americas, Russia, UK, Global Security Issues
UK Security Policy: National Institutions and the Gap between Expert and Public Opinion
Events, 19 September 2017The conference will discuss the findings from a three-year study of elite foreign policy attitudes and security policy preferences, comparing the views of the UK elite with their American...
RUSI International, United States, UK, Global Security IssuesPages
"Advances in deepfake technology have led to the emergence of a new picture of how doctored material will be used in disinformation campaigns. While safeguards ensure that manipulated videos may not be such a problem at the highest levels of security and defence, lower levels ‐ such as local elections ‐ remain vulnerable to malign actors. At such levels, deepfakes can be distributed using social media channels to target unsuspecting victims. Current solutions only protect individuals who are prominent enough to be covered by the mainstream media, and not enough is being done by governments or social media companies to protect ordinary users from coordinated inauthentic activity online. However, with more images and videos of ourselves online than ever before, anyone can be a victim of a disinformation campaign. As deepfakes become easier to make, no one is safe ‐ hyper-localized manipulation will create problems for democratic institutions that have not yet been fully understood. "
Microfake: How small-scale deepfakes can undermine society
In The News, 7 July 2020 Tags: Cyber, United States, Americas, UK, Intelligence, Resilience, Technology, Europe
"Karin von Hippel, the director general of the Royal United Services Institute, cautioned western countries from overreacting to what she described as characteristic grandstanding from Trump: “I just don’t think it will be implemented in the next few months before a presidential election because Congress or the Pentagon will find ways to block it; but if he wins, then, yes, anything can happen.”"
Trump move to take US troops out of Germany 'a dangerous game'
In The News, 8 June 2020 Tags: United States, Germany
Dr Karin von Hippel on protests and potential use of the National Guard in the US
In The News, 4 June 2020 Tags: United States
""With all of its shortcomings, the U.S. has stood for many ideals we dearly share," said Ziya Meral, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank. "Now we are witnessing an America spiraling down into chaos, poor governance, social friction, poor policing and poor leadership." "
D.C. police response to George Floyd protests prompts alarm abroad
In The News, 2 June 2020 Tags: United States
"‘Within Washington there is bipartisan consensus China is a threat.’ "
Watch Dr Karin von Hippel on China and the US for Channel 4
In The News, 18 May 2020 Tags: China, Coronavirus, United States
The UK Ministry of Defence’s Adoption of the Government-Wide System for Project Approvals
Western Way of War: Air Marshal Philip Osborn
India Must Secure the Indian Ocean to Deter China’s Assertion Along the Border