RUSI - Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies

What Do US Spies Really Think About China?

The US intelligence community’s latest threat assessment highlights China’s military, economic and technological advancements. However, it omits China’s domestic political challenges, which have global ramifications, writes Kent Harrington in the latest RUSI Newsbrief.

What Do US Spies Really Think About China? While the US intelligence community’s latest threat assessment is right to focus on advances in China’s military, economic and technological capabilities, it omits too much when it comes to the country’s domestic political challenges. These matter, because what happens in China does not stay i...

On 22 March, Jordanian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Ayman Safadi, visited RUSI to discuss Jordan's perspectives on developments across the Middle East. Head over to our website now to watch his opening statement: https://bit.ly/3LOOuGd

Shifting Sands: The UK’s Role in a Changing Gulf

The deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic relations, mediated by China, is a seismic shift in the Middle East. It has implications for the UK, which has strong ties to the Gulf, writes Tobias Borck in the latest RUSI Commentary.

Shifting Sands: The UK’s Role in a Changing Gulf The agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic relations, facilitated by China and signed in Beijing on 11 March, was a jolt to the geopolitics of the Middle East. While much attention is rightly focused on what the agreement – and China’s role in it, in particular – says ab...

The Wagner Group, Sanctions, and Countering Terrorism Finance: CTF Online Symposium 12

📅Join RUSI Europe and the team behind Project CRAAFT (Collaboration, Research and Analysis Against the Financing of Terrorism) on 30 March for a live webinar on how targeted financial sanctions can help stop the Wagner Group and other non-state proxies. Visit our website to register!

The Wagner Group, Sanctions, and Countering Terrorism Finance: CTF Online Symposium 12 Join RUSI Europe and the team behind Project CRAAFT (Collaboration, Research and Analysis Against the Financing of Terrorism) for a live webinar on the future utility of targeted financial sanctions in opposing the Wagner Group and other non-state proxies.

The Politics of African National Debt

More than 20 years after global efforts to relieve African national debts, the issue is once again in the headlines. Which countries are at risk, what is at stake, and why is it all so political? Simon Rynn provides his analysis in the latest RUSI Commentary.

The Politics of African National Debt More than 20 years after global efforts to relieve African national debts, the issue is once again in the headlines. Which countries are at risk, what is at stake, and why is it all so political?

RUSI UK-Africa Conference 2023

📆The RUSI UK-Africa Conference will explore the most critical security, geo-political, and geo-economic issues facing Africa. Join the conversation on how to enhance the UK-Africa relationship to address these challenges. Register now!

RUSI UK-Africa Conference 2023 Providing a forum to discuss the pressing issues facing the continent within the context of UK-Africa relations.

RUSI Sea Power Conference 2023

📅The RUSI Sea Power Conference on April 24th is a great opportunity for anyone interested in the maritime domain to learn more about the maritime contribution to conventional deterrence in Europe. The conference will discuss the trade-offs and choices that NATO navies, particularly European ones, will need to make as they adapt to the great power threat in Europe. Don't miss out - visit our website to book your place now!

RUSI Sea Power Conference 2023 Bringing together practitioners and theorists to examine the maritime contribution to conventional deterrence in Europe.

🚨The fourth session at our Combat Air Conference will discuss how the US, UK, and Europe are designing platforms and force structures to counter future threats, while balancing short-term modernisation and sustainment needs. Book your ticket now: https://bit.ly/3Jo9eDi

Can Brazil and China Really Pull Off an Alternative Peace Club?

'It is highly likely that China will want a front seat at any peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, increasing the likelihood that Lula’s ‘peace club’ proposal will be welcomed by Xi' write Harry Dudman and Dr Carlos Solar in the latest RUSI Commentary.

Can Brazil and China Really Pull Off an Alternative Peace Club? Strategic relations between Lula da Silva and Xi Jinping are likely to strengthen behind their attempt to mediate an end to the Ukraine–Russia war.

Navigating the ‘Polycrisis’: Climate Change, Energy Security and Instability

📅The UK faces complex challenges of energy security, climate change, and economic prosperity. Join us on March 30 for a keynote address from Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero the Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP, followed by a high-level panel.

Speakers include Amber Rudd, James Henderson, Laurence Tubiana, Melissa Stark, and Al-Karim Govindji.

Head over to our website now to book your place!

Navigating the ‘Polycrisis’: Climate Change, Energy Security and Instability Energy, security and climate change are interacting in increasingly complex ways as new technologies emerge, weather patterns form, and the world moves towards multipolarity. Join RUSI for a ministerial keynote and high-level discussion about what the UK can do to remain prosperous and secure i...

Helping AUKUS Last the Distance

In the latest RUSI Commentary, Dr Peter Layton notes that while defence matters usually receive limited meaningful public debate in Australia, the government will need to take a different approach if it is to ensure the long-term success of AUKUS.

Helping AUKUS Last the Distance While defence matters usually receive limited meaningful public debate in Australia, the government will need to take a different approach if it is to ensure the long-term success of AUKUS.

Following the publication of Baroness Casey's report on the Metropolitan Police, RUSI's Dr Liam O'Shea provides his comment on the findings and what can be done to improve policing.

You can revisit our recent RUSI Commentary by Alexia Hack and Dr Liam O’Shea that looks at what needs to change in order to rooted out sexism and misogyny within the UK police: https://bit.ly/3lCCUTQ

Exploring the Sino-Russian Relationship: Adversarial Studies Seminar

📅 Join us this Friday for a discussion with Richard Weitz, Director of the Center for Political-Military Analysis at Hudson Institute, on the unprecedented alignment between Russia and China in recent years. Head over to our website for more information, including how to register to attend.

Exploring the Sino-Russian Relationship: Adversarial Studies Seminar In this Adversarial Studies Seminar, Richard Weitz, Director of the Center for Political-Military Analysis at Hudson Institute, joins us to discuss the unprecedented alignment between Russia and China in recent years.

Mobilisation in Russia: How to Convince Men to Fight in Ukraine?

The Russian government has launched a video campaign asking citizens to enlist in the army. But has it achieved the desired effect? Anna Kruglova explores this question further in the latest RUSI Commentary.

Mobilisation in Russia: How to Convince Men to Fight in Ukraine? The Russian government has launched a video campaign drawing on a number of themes in an attempt to persuade its citizens to enlist. But has it achieved the desired effect?

Out of Africa: Financial Networks of Islamic State 2.0

In the latest RUSI Commentary Edmund Fitton-Brown explores how the killing of a prominent Islamic State financier in Somalia sheds light on the group’s transnational financial networks and shifting centre of gravity.

Out of Africa: Financial Networks of Islamic State 2.0 The killing of a prominent Islamic State financier in Somalia sheds light on the group’s transnational financial networks and shifting centre of gravity.

How High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellites Are Challenging Established Thinking

Pseudo-satellite platforms offer a range of potentially useful ISR capabilities for military forces, but harnessing them successfully will require new approaches to mission planning, sensor management and procurement, writes Andrew Payne in the latest RUSI Defence Systems article.

How High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellites Are Challenging Established Thinking Pseudo-satellite platforms offer a range of potentially useful ISR capabilities for military forces, but harnessing them successfully will require new approaches to mission planning, sensor management and procurement

RUSI UK-Africa Conference 2023

📅Join us on 20 April for the RUSI UK-Africa Conference when we will being together policymakers, analysts and opinion leaders to discuss the most pressing security, geo-political and geo-economic issues facing Africa at the moment.
https://rusi.org/events/conferences/rusi-uk-africa-conference-2023

RUSI UK-Africa Conference 2023 Providing a forum to discuss the pressing issues facing the continent within the context of UK-Africa relations.

The Hollow Saudi-Iranian Agreement

A new Chinese-brokered restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran is hardly sufficient to overcome those two countries’ longstanding hostilities.

Barak Barfi provides his analysis in the latest RUSI Newsbrief.

The Hollow Saudi-Iranian Agreement A new Chinese-brokered restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran is hardly sufficient to overcome those two countries’ longstanding hostilities. Far from representing a regional realignment, it is ultimately more likely to demonstrate the limits of China’s influence.

We are looking for a Graphic Designer to join our Publications Team! This is an excellent opportunity for someone who loves creating high-quality visual materials.

Visit our website for more information, including how to apply: https://bit.ly/3T8wpEY

🚨At the RUSI Combat Air Conference we will examine the approaches taken by the Swedish and Finnish Air Forces to the challenge of surviving and operating effectively against Russia, which has long shaped most aspects of their equipment, doctrine and training.

Make sure to book your ticket now so that you don't miss out: https://bit.ly/3Jo9eDi

What are the impacts of climate change on illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing over the next 10 years?

Head over to our website to read findings in the latest report by Lauren Young, Cathy Haenlein and Grace Evans: https://bit.ly/3ILDBC7

Further Together: An Opening for NATO–EU Sanctions Cooperation

Russia is exploiting Euro-Atlantic supply chain weaknesses that could be resolved by effective sanctions cooperation between NATO and the EU.

Jack Crawford provides his analysis in the latest RUSI Commentary.

Further Together: An Opening for NATO–EU Sanctions Cooperation Russia is exploiting Euro-Atlantic supply chain weaknesses that could be resolved by effective sanctions cooperation between NATO and the EU.

Georgia’s Foreign Agents Law: A Dangerous Gamble

'There cannot be a third way for Georgia; the choice is between a future with Russia, or one with Europe' Natia Seskuria writes in the latest RUSI Commentary.

Georgia’s Foreign Agents Law: A Dangerous Gamble Tens of thousands of Georgians took to the streets last week to protest the Georgian government’s attempts to pass a new law on what it termed ‘transparency in foreign influence’, more commonly referred to as a ‘foreign agents’ law and widely believed to be modelled on Russia’s repressiv...

Navies and Economic Warfare

In the latest RUSI Occasional Paper by Sidharth Kaushal, we examine the conduct of economic warfare at sea, and the way it will shape the imperatives of Western navies in the future. Click below to read the full report and its findings now!

Navies and Economic Warfare This paper examines the conduct of economic warfare at sea, and the way it will shape the imperatives of Western navies in the future. Among its key findings are that defensive action against adversary economic warfare will become a more complex task, drawing on ever-greater naval capacity, as the c...

The Use of Live Facial Recognition Technology in UK Policing

📅What are some of the challenges and opportunities of using AI-driven live facial recognition technology in UK policing? Join us on 29 March when we will be discussing this question further with Lindsey Chiswick, Director of Intelligence, Metropolitan Police Service.

The Use of Live Facial Recognition Technology in UK Policing Lindsey Chiswick, Director of Intelligence, Metropolitan Police Service, will discuss the challenges and opportunities of using AI-driven live facial recognition technology in UK policing.

Towards a New Model for Economic Crime Policing: Target 2030

The UK’s role in Russia-related money laundering made national security a key factor in economic crime policing reform. Our report by Helena Wood and Karen Baxter proposes a national security-based model for responding to the threat of economic crime.

Towards a New Model for Economic Crime Policing: Target 2030 In 2022, escalating levels of fraud and the spotlight placed on the UK’s role in Russia-related money laundering have given rise to a growing recognition of economic crime as a national security threat and the need to reform the UK’s economic crime policing response.

SSN-AUKUS: Opportunities, Risks and Implications

The planned development of Australia’s own nuclear attack submarine could benefit Canberra, London and Washington – but it is not without substantial risks. Read as Sidharth Kaushal provides his analysis in the latest RUSI Commentary.

SSN-AUKUS: Opportunities, Risks and Implications The planned development of Australia’s own nuclear attack submarine could benefit Canberra, London and Washington – but it is not without substantial risks.

We are looking for a Senior Research Fellow to work on a range of open-source intelligence and investigative projects on Russia, China and North Korea. Do you have experience leading high profile open source or journalistic investigations? If so, apply on our website: https://bit.ly/41VPGgG

Gender and International Drug Trafficking

📆 Join us on 24 March for a webinar that will examine the role that women play in international drug trafficking routes, empires and networks. Head over to our website to register to attend.

Gender and International Drug Trafficking This webinar will examine international drug trafficking routes, empires and networks to show how it is not necessarily a male-dominated market, with women playing varied roles, from couriers to leaders of drug trafficking organisations. These roles will be discussed in the webinar to improve our an...

🚨The second session at the RUSI Combat Air Conference will examine the different adaptive approaches being taken to improve survivability and warfighting credibility against Russia among air forces not designed from the outset with this threat as a dominant planning assumption.

Register to attend on our website now: https://bit.ly/3Jo9eDi

Unnecessary Delay: The Integrated Review Refresh 2023

Read the latest RUSI Commentary on the Integrated Review Refresh 2023 where Veerle Nouwens and Ed Arnold find that 'The refresh provides a welcome comprehensive summary of UK foreign policy, but starves allies of the crucial detail of the UKs defence policy.'

Unnecessary Delay: The Integrated Review Refresh 2023 The refresh to the UK’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy was directed to ‘ensure the UK’s diplomatic, military and security architecture is keeping pace with evolving threat posed by hostile nations'. The refresh provides a welcome comprehensive summary of...

Gender and Environmental Crime

📅Join us on 17 April when we will explore emerging evidence on gender’s role in environmental crime and its impacts, and how understanding this may help shape the societal response. Head over to our website now to register to attend.

Gender and Environmental Crime This webinar will explore emerging evidence on gender’s role in environmental crime and its impacts, and how understanding this may help shape the societal response.