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Aerial view of Colón Free Trade Zone, Panama, 2014. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Administración de la Zona Libre de Colón

Transparency in the Backbone of Global Supply Chains: Foreign Trade Zones

Commentary, 16 October 2019

Clay R Fuller

Foreign trade zones bring many benefits, but they require greater transparency in order to operate securely and ethically.

AML/CTF, Global Security Issues, Illicit Trade, Law and Ethics, National Security

A B-52 Stratofortress deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., lands on the flight line at RAF Fairford, England, March 20, 2019. The B-52s are deployed to support U.S. Strategic Command’s Bomber Task Force (BTF) in Europe. Courtesy of U.S. Air Force

Partnerships are at the Core of Modern Deterrence

Commentary, 15 October 2019

Giedrimas Jeglinskas

How does a state achieve effective deterrence? Lithuania provides an example.

Modern Deterrence, NATO, Defence Management, Defence Policy, Global Security Issues, International Institutions, Land Forces, Military Personnel, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, Resilience, Europe

People's Liberation Army (Navy) ship Qiandaohu (AO 886) steams in close formation as one of 42 ships and submarines representing 15 international partner nations during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014. Courtesy of RIMPAC/Wikimedia Commons

Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones: The Trajectory of China's Maritime Transformation

RUSI Publications, 14 October 2019

Sidharth Kaushal and Magdalena Markiewicz

This Occasional Paper examines China's maritime strategy by placing its contemporary evolution in context.

Armed Forces, China, Occasional Papers, Equipment and Acquisitions, Military Sciences, Asia, Maritime Forces, Military Personnel, Technology, Pacific

Gaming the System: Money Laundering Through Online Games

Article, 11 October 2019

Anton Moiseienko and Kayla Izenman

In-game artefacts and currencies often have real-life value and can be used to move or invest criminal proceeds. But there are no clear expectations of what game operators can or should do to...

Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, AML/CTF, RUSI Newsbrief

The British frigate HMS Phoebe (F42) entering Hampton Roads (USA), 1990. Courtesy of Tracy Lee Didas, US Navy/Wikipedia

Sea Training: An Oft Overlooked Strategic Asset

Commentary, 11 October 2019

Peter Roberts and Sidharth Kaushal

Rumours abound that the Royal Navy is to gut its globally respected Operational Sea Training organisation in order to reallocate cash across defence. It is not simply the UK’s martial reputation that...

UK Defence Policy, Military Sciences, Defence Management, UK, Maritime Forces, Military Personnel, National Security

Transparency in the Backbone of Global Supply Chains: Foreign Trade Zones

Commentary, 16 October 2019

Clay R Fuller

Foreign trade zones bring many benefits, but they require greater transparency in order to operate securely and ethically.

AML/CTF, Global Security Issues, Illicit Trade, Law and Ethics, National Security

Partnerships are at the Core of Modern Deterrence

Commentary, 15 October 2019

Giedrimas Jeglinskas

How does a state achieve effective deterrence? Lithuania provides an example.

Modern Deterrence, NATO, Defence Management, Defence Policy, Global Security Issues, International Institutions, Land Forces, Military Personnel, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, Resilience, Europe

Sea Training: An Oft Overlooked Strategic Asset

Commentary, 11 October 2019

Peter Roberts and Sidharth Kaushal

Rumours abound that the Royal Navy is to gut its globally respected Operational Sea Training organisation in order to reallocate cash across defence. It is not simply the UK’s martial reputation that...

UK Defence Policy, Military Sciences, Defence Management, UK, Maritime Forces, Military Personnel, National Security

US National Bank Building, Portland, Oregon, 2011. Courtesy of Steve Morgan/Wikimedia Commons

Addressing the Abuse of Trade for Money Laundering Purposes

Commentary, 9 October 2019

Jonathan Draper

The problem of detecting and tackling money laundering has taxed financial institutions and law enforcement for decades. Trade-based money laundering adds a new dimension of complexity.

AML/CTF, Law and Ethics, Financial Crime 2.0, Organised Crime

Sebastian Kurz. Courtesy of EU20177EE Estonian Presidency/Raul Mee/Flickr

Austria: The Successful Populist

Commentary, 8 October 2019

Tessa Szyszkowitz

Following the election victory of Sebastian Kurz, some are wondering if the Austrian model could be copied across the border in Germany. Kurz’s admirers might want to consider the dangers involved...

Europe

An unarmed Trident II D5 missile launches from the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) off the coast of California, 2008. Courtesy of Ronald Gutridge/U.S. Strategic Command

Denuclearising North Korea Through a Broader Security Framework

Commentary, 4 October 2019

Cristina Varriale

The resumption of the US–North Korea denuclearisation talks at a ‘working level’ is to be welcomed. But a broader security engagement is urgently needed.

United States, US Defence Policy, North Korea, Defence Management, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy

Ceremony for exchanging the documents signed during the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping’s working visit to the Russian Federation, 2018. Courtesy of President of Russia/Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

The Over-Hyphenation of ‘China–Russia’

Commentary, 3 October 2019

Raffaello Pantucci

A growing Western habit of linking China and Russia as joint adversaries in various contexts is missing the actual strengths of the relationship, and their varied interests in third locations.

China, International Security Studies, Russia, Global Security Issues, Land Forces, Military Personnel, Technology

Have Your Cake and Trade It: Is it Possible to Promote Legitimate Commerce While Reducing Illicit Trade?

Commentary, 1 October 2019

Anton Moiseienko, Alexandria Reid and Isabella Chase

Despite the formidable challenges of combatting illicit trade and trade-based money laundering, several ongoing initiatives give cause for cautious optimism.

Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Organised Crime and Policing, AML/CTF, Organised Crime

MoD sign. Courtesy of MoD/Harland Quarrington/OGL v.1.0

The End of Defence Austerity? The 2019 Spending Round and the UK Defence Budget

Commentary, 30 September 2019

Malcolm Chalmers

While challenges remain, the financial position of UK Defence has improved significantly over the last two years.

Defence Management, Defence Policy, UK, Europe

Main office building of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague. Courtesy of Szilas/Wikimedia

Acting Together: Making Effective Use of Multilateral Deterrence Measures

Commentary, 23 September 2019

Tom Burge

Deterrence has become more complicated; a diplomat reflects on the challenges.

Modern Deterrence

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Episode 03: Is a New Approach Needed?

Multimedia, 9 October 2019

Isabella Chase, Research Analyst

Host Isabella Chase looks at how innovation could be used to solve a number of problems in the AML/CFT regime. To discuss the latest financial crime news she is joined by Denisse Rudich and Nick...

Tags: Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, AML/CTF

Episode 2: Better Together

Multimedia, 25 September 2019

Isabella Chase, Research Analyst

In this episode of the Suspicious Transaction Report, Isabella Chase is joined by Jo Jenkins and David Carlisle to discuss Wilson’s crypto auction, Swedbank’s latest press release, the Dutch banks...

Tags: Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, AML/CTF

Episode 1: The Suspicious Transaction Report

Multimedia, 11 September 2019

Isabella Chase, Research Analyst

Isabella discusses the latest financial crime news with Samantha Sheen and Misha Glenny. They cover the latest developments with the impounded Iranian oil tanker the Adrian Darya-1, HMRC’s largest...

Tags: Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, AML/CTF

Trailer: The Suspicious Transaction Report

Multimedia, 4 September 2019

Isabella Chase, Research Analyst

Tom Keatinge, Director, Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, RUSI

In this preview episode of the 'Suspicious Transaction Report' podcast, Isabella Chase talks to Tom Keatinge and Nick Parfitt about the EU’s second attempt at a money laundering blacklist, the NCA’s...

Tags: Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, AML/CTF

In Context podcast - Episode 13 - Sir John Scarlett

Multimedia, 29 August 2019

In this episode Karin talks to Sir John Scarlett about his career in the British Secret Intelligence Service, including his time as Chief. They discuss the collapse of the Soviet Union, 9/11 and even...

Tags: The decade after 9/11, The War on Terror, Defence Policy, UK, Intelligence, International Institutions, Terrorism, Europe

The New Boris Johnson Government

Multimedia, 2 August 2019

Jonathan Eyal, Associate Director, Strategic Research Partnerships

Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director-General

Professor Malcolm Chalmers and Dr Jonathan Eyal discuss the implications of the premiership of Boris Johnson and the impending Brexit deadline. Professor Malcolm Chalmers is Deputy Director...

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In Context podcast - Episode 12 - Lord Robertson

Multimedia, 19 July 2019

Dr Karin von Hippel, Director-General

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Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir at RUSI

Multimedia, 20 June 2019

Michael Stephens, Research Fellow for Middle East Studies

RUSI welcomes Adel al Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He arrives at a time of great tension between Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran....

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Dr Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi on the Iran Nuclear Deal

Multimedia, 18 June 2019

Dr Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, Research Fellow

Dr 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

Dr Karin von Hippel on the State Visit of President Trump

Multimedia, 7 June 2019

Dr Karin von Hippel, Director-General

Dr Karin von Hippel on CNN discussing UK-US relations and the outcomes of the State Visit to the UK by President Donald Trump.

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Gaming the System: Money Laundering Through Online Games

RUSI Newsbrief, 11 October 2019

Anton Moiseienko and Kayla Izenman

In-game artefacts and currencies often have real-life value and can be used to move or invest criminal proceeds. But there are no clear expectations of what game operators can or should do to identify criminal activity.

Tags: AML/CTF

What About the Afghan State? US Interests Reach Beyond Counterterrorism

RUSI Newsbrief, 4 October 2019

James M Page

The cancellation of the US peace agreement with the Taliban not only reasserts the importance of elections in Afghanistan, but also wider US interests in the Afghan state.

Tags: Afghanistan

Daesh, Twitter and the Social Media Ecosystem: A Study of Outlinks Contained in Tweets Mentioning Rumiyah

RUSI Journal, 25 September 2019

Stuart Macdonald, Daniel Grinnell, Anina Kinzel and Nuria Lorenzo-Dus

Despite a drastic decline, some supporters still use Twitter to disseminate the organisation’s materials.

Tags: Cyber, Technology, Terrorism

Book Review: Asia after Versailles: Asian Perspectives on the Paris Peace Conference and the Interwar Order, 1919–33

RUSI Journal, 25 September 2019

Michele L Louro

Michele L Louro reviews Asia after Versailles: Asian Perspectives on the Paris Peace Conference and the Interwar Order, 1919–33, edited by Urs Matthias Zachmann.

Tags: France, Central and South Asia