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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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In Context podcast - Episode 11: Jane Marriott OBE
Multimedia, 18 April 2019Recently appointed as the new UK High Commissioner to Nairobi, Jane Marriott joins Karin for the In Context podcast to discuss her varied career, including working in hot spots such as Iraq,...
Russia’s ‘Silent’ Occupation and Georgia’s Territorial Integrity
Commentary, 18 April 2019Natia Seskuria
Russia’s pressure on Georgia continues, both through the gradual seizure of more territory and through massive propaganda campaigns.
International Security Studies, Russia, Georgia, Global Security Issues, Information
Israel’s World is Shrinking: How the Iran–Russia Axis is Gaining Ground
Article, 18 April 2019Kyle Orton
Israeli opinion generally regards the country’s efforts to contain Iran, especially in Syria, as having been successful. In fact, the trendline runs the other way: Iran is constraining Israel,...
Iran, RUSI Newsbrief, Russia, Syria, Israel, Global Security Issues
Mitigating Cyber Risks: Is There Room for Two?
Commentary, 17 April 2019Maria Smekalova and Kevin Gourlay
There is still a role for global discussion on norms of conduct in cyberspace.
Cyber, United Nations, Cyber Security, Russia, Information, International Institutions, Technology
Closing the Crypto Gap: Guidance for Countering North Korean Cryptocurrency Activity in Southeast Asia
RUSI Publications, 14 April 2019David Carlisle and Kayla Izenman
This paper reveals how North Korea can exploit cryptocurrency, particularly in Southeast Asia, to circumvent international sanctions. It sets out practical guidance for countries in the region to...
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Counter-Proliferation Finance, Cyber, AML/CTF, Occasional Papers, North Korea, Sanctions, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Technology
Russia’s ‘Silent’ Occupation and Georgia’s Territorial Integrity
Commentary, 18 April 2019Natia Seskuria
Russia’s pressure on Georgia continues, both through the gradual seizure of more territory and through massive propaganda campaigns.
International Security Studies, Russia, Georgia, Global Security Issues, Information
Mitigating Cyber Risks: Is There Room for Two?
Commentary, 17 April 2019Maria Smekalova and Kevin Gourlay
There is still a role for global discussion on norms of conduct in cyberspace.
Cyber, United Nations, Cyber Security, Russia, Information, International Institutions, Technology
Israel’s Election: It Is Bibi All the Way
Commentary, 11 April 2019Michael Stephens
Binyamin Netanyahu has won the Israeli election, setting the scene for a right-wing administration which may well be tempted to formally annex the occupied territories and set Israel on a dangerous...
RUSI International, Israel, Middle East and North Africa
US Presidential Hopefuls and Their Nuclear Weapons Policies
Commentary, 9 April 2019Jamie Kwong
US Democratic Party candidates for the White House are beginning to tackle nuclear challenges in their election campaigns.
United States, US Defence Policy, Americas, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Defence Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Nearly Forgotten but not Gone: The Legacy of the UK’s Retired Nuclear Submarines
Commentary, 5 April 2019Trevor Taylor
Britain’s difficulty in dismantling its retired nuclear submarines represents a classic lesson in the benefits and risks of deferring ‘non-urgent’ spending in the defence sector.
Defence Spending, Defence, Industries and Society, Equipment and Acquisitions, Defence Management, UK, UK Defence, Europe
The UK's National Cyber Security Strategy Beyond 2021: The International Dimension
Commentary, 2 April 2019Danny Steed
Building the next cyber security strategy must go beyond domestic resilience to address international dynamics. And doing so will require an articulation of a vision about what kind of cyberspace it...
Cyber, UK, Intelligence, Technology, Europe
Supervising the UK AML Supervisors: The Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision First Annual Report
Commentary, 29 March 2019Helena Wood
The launch of the first annual report of the UK’s Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision signals a bold step forward for UK anti-money laundering supervision, but many...
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, AML/CTF, UK, Europe
Avoiding a Costly Deal with Moscow in Pyongyang
Commentary, 26 March 2019Darya Dolzikova
Russia is strengthening its links with North Korea in order to position itself as an indispensable interlocutor between Washington and Pyongyang. But the cost Russia could demand for regional...
United States, North Korea, Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Sanctions, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
The Illusion of Simplicity: Which Virtual Currencies Businesses are Subject to Money Laundering Rules?
Commentary, 21 March 2019Anton Moiseienko and Kayla Izenman
Regulating virtual currency businesses in order to prevent money laundering is not easy. But it can be done.
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Cyber, AML/CTF, Global Security Issues, Information, Intelligence, International Institutions, Financial Crime 2.0
A Confident Pakistan Army Recalibrates the Country’s Regional Policies
Commentary, 18 March 2019Kamal Alam
Pakistan’s military is playing a significant role in assisting the country’s prime minister in the conduct of foreign and security policies, and usually with the objective of scaling down...
Pakistan, International Security Studies, Defence Management, Indo-Pakistan Conflict, Global Security Issues, Land Forces, Military Personnel, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, ResiliencePages
In Context podcast - Episode 11: Jane Marriott OBE
Multimedia, 18 April 2019Recently appointed as the new UK High Commissioner to Nairobi, Jane Marriott joins Karin for the In Context podcast to discuss her varied career, including working in hot spots such as Iraq,...
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In Context podcast – Episode 7: General the Lord Houghton of Richmond
Multimedia, 1 February 2019General the Lord Houghton of Richmond spent over four decades in the British Army, including tours in Ireland and Iraq, with his last appointment being the military’s highest as Chief of the Defence...
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In Context podcast - Episode 6: Sir Malcolm Rifkind
Multimedia, 7 December 2018Sir Malcolm Rifkind is a major figure in UK defence and security, having served as defence secretary, foreign secretary and most recently as chair of the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security...
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In Context podcast - Episode 5: Nik Gowing
Multimedia, 23 November 2018Nik Gowing has spent his career breaking news: in this episode he and Karin sit down and explore some of the most incredible stories Nik has reported on. His new book, ‘Thinking the Unthinkable’,...
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Israel’s World is Shrinking: How the Iran–Russia Axis is Gaining Ground
RUSI Newsbrief, 18 April 2019Kyle Orton
Israeli opinion generally regards the country’s efforts to contain Iran, especially in Syria, as having been successful. In fact, the trendline runs the other way: Iran is constraining Israel, entrenching all around the Jewish state.
Tags: Iran, Russia, Syria, Israel, Global Security Issues
History Resurgent: Old and New Challenges in the Western Balkans
RUSI Newsbrief, 12 April 2019Alex Maciag
With competition for influence increasing, old tensions are being revived in the fragile Western Balkans. The West must avoid complacency and show leadership in resolving critical issues before they become dangerous.
Tags: NATO, European Union, Global Security Issues, Europe
Allies in the Multi-Domain Task Force
RUSI Defence Systems, 5 April 2019Jack Watling
The scale and highly integrated nature of the US’s Multi-Domain Operations concept for future warfare requires coordination, mutual understanding of capabilities and permissions sharing between armed services. These exceed what NATO allies can currently achieve
Tags: US Defence Policy, NATO
The Rise, Fall and Future of Jihad in the North Caucasus
RUSI Newsbrief, 4 April 2019Aleksandre Kvakhadze
Since the beginning of armed conflict in Syria and Iraq, thousands of militants from the Caucasus region have participated in the war. However, dislodging Daesh and a collapse of the insurgency in the North Caucasus have substantially diminished the capacities of North Caucasian jihadi groups. Nevertheless, militancy in the region has potential.
Tags: Tackling Extremism, Russia, Counterinsurgency, Global Security Issues, Terrorism
‘Short of War’: No Peace in the South China Sea
RUSI Newsbrief, 1 April 2019Huong Le Thu
China’s ongoing construction efforts have created a situation where (in the words of the Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Philip Davidson) Beijing is ‘capable of controlling the South China Sea in all scenarios short of war with the United States’. The absence of outright war reflects not only China’s ability to move the threshold for instigating open conflict, but also the fact that law, justice and security are not being respected, and that some have come to terms with this.
Tags: China, Global Security Issues, Pacific
What Do Future Main Battle Tanks Need to Succeed? Ask the Operators
RUSI Defence Systems, 25 March 2019Micah Clark
As the US Army and British Army eye upgrades to their respective main battle tanks, the often-overlooked operator’s perspective calls for the focus to fall on maintainability in the field over incremental upgrades to firepower and survivability
Tags: United States, Land Forces
How East Africa’s Terrorists Build Their Brand Strength
RUSI Newsbrief, 15 March 2019Matthew Freear
To further its ambitious agenda, the Somali terrorist organisation Al-Shabaab has dedicated substantial time and effort into polishing its unique brand.
Tags: Horn of Africa, Tackling Extremism, African Union, Counterinsurgency, Terrorism
The Hanoi Summit: It is Not About the Economy, Stupid
RUSI Newsbrief, 13 March 2019Tom Plant
The Hanoi summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump came to no clear agreement on measures to limit North Korea’s nuclear programme. The two countries’ opposing positions and motives will make next steps challenging.
Tags: United States, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
The Bajwa Fence: The Pakistani Military Seals the Afghan Border
RUSI Newsbrief, 8 March 2019Kamal Alam
Will the construction of a 1200km fence along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border spark new confidence in Pakistan’s commitment to combatting cross-border terrorism?
Tags: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Counterinsurgency, Global Security Issues
Feet of Clay: Can Megaprojects Distract the Russian People from Sanctions?
RUSI Newsbrief, 1 March 2019Emily Ferris
Five years on from their initial introduction, international sanctions on Russia have done little to alter the country’s behaviour on the international scene or domestically. As the sanctions continue to restrict foreign investment in Russia’s infrastructure, authorities are keen to promote the idea of megaprojects – large but often symbolic constructions – as a distraction from Russia’s economic constraints. However, in the long term this strategy may prove short-sighted, as it diverts government funds away from necessary social welfare projects that may increase public dissatisfaction in...
Tags: RussiaPages
Breakfast Briefing - Operating in Russia: High Risks with Little Return?
Events, 19 November 2019An exclusive breakfast briefing with Emily Ferris, Research Fellow, Russia and Eurasia, RUSI.
Breakfast Briefing: Policing the UK in an Evolving Threat Landscape
Events, 9 October 2019An exclusive breakfast briefing with Lord Hogan-Howe QPM, Distinguished Fellow, RUSI and former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service.
Breakfast Briefing - Seven Decades of Security: NATO at 70
Events, 18 September 2019An exclusive breakfast briefing with Sir Kevin Tebbit KCB CMG, Distinguished Fellow, RUSI and former Permanent Secretary, UK Ministry of Defence.
Breakfast Briefing - Money Laundering and the Markets
Events, 4 July 2019An exclusive breakfast briefing with Jacob Kruse, Managing Director, Alliance Bernstein and Senior Analyst at Autonomous Research.
Breakfast Briefing - UK Defence Reform
Events, 27 June 2019An exclusive breakfast briefing with Professor Trevor Taylor, Professorial Research Fellow in Defence Management, RUSI, on UK defence reform.
Russia’s ‘Silent’ Occupation and Georgia’s Territorial Integrity
In Context podcast - Episode 11: Jane Marriott OBE
Mitigating Cyber Risks: Is There Room for Two?