Global Security Briefing

As India is quickly developing as a major power, Global Security Briefing considers its prospects as a partner for the UK in the context of the Indo-Pacific ‘Tilt’

The world has many emerging powers, but India is probably the one with the greatest potential to shift the balance in the Indo-Pacific and, perhaps, the world over coming generations. Following independence, India forged a ‘non-aligned’ path through the Cold War. For most of its history, its main security threat came from neighbouring Pakistan, with which it has fought a series of wars, and competed successfully in a race to acquire nuclear weapons. Today, it is the prospect that India might take a side in the great power competition between the USA and China that is drawing the attention of the world.

India’s gigantic population and skills base also makes it an attractive market and technology partner, not least for Britain, as the UK seeks to develop new economic relations after leaving the EU. The UK government’s ‘Integrated Review’ of March 2021 described India as “an international actor of growing importance” and states the ambition to transform the UK’s cooperation with India “across the full range of our shared interests”. UK-India relations are framed by a mutually agreed roadmap to deepen bilateral ties by 2030 with the aim of developing a comprehensive strategic partnership.

In this episode, host Neil Melvin is joined by Dr Walter Ladwig III of King’s College London. Beyond what it offers the UK ‘tilt’, the trajectory of India’s rise appears certain to influence the outcome of military strategic rivalry, the evolution of global governance and the competition of different civilisational values. The question is ‘how?’.

With David Cameron's return to government, this episode of the Global Security Briefing analyses the UK's approach to China over the past decade.

The UK’s 2023 Integrated Review Refresh declares China a ‘an epoch-defining systemic challenge’. This is a far cry from the tone of the earlier UK policy from 2015, when the then-Cameron government referred to the bilateral relationship with Beijing as entering a ‘golden era’.

This apparent discrepancy has prompted calls for greater coherence in policy execution, public debate and scrutiny. In this episode, we are joined by RUSI's Senior Associate Fellow and Founding Director of the UK National Committee on China, Andrew Cainey, to ask: what is the UK's current China policy, and is a strategy document the best way to achieve desired results?

Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October has opened a new chapter in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We examine how the war is set to reshape the Middle East for years to come.

In a highly complex attack that included a missile barrage and an invasion of southern Israel, Hamas killed 1,400 people and took over 200 people hostage – mostly Israelis, but also a significant number of foreign nationals.

Israel has responded with overwhelming military force in the Gaza Strip, vowing to destroy Hamas once and for all. Thus far, Israel’s extensive air campaign and artillery bombardment has killed thousands of Palestinians.

There are fears that the conflict could escalate further. For the UK and the rest of Europe, the war also represents a difficult challenge. Most European governments have declared strong support for Israel, but there are also growing calls for a ceasefire. In this episode, host Neil Melvin is joined by RUSI Senior Research Fellow Tobias Borck and Dr Louise Kettle, Assistant Professor of International Relations at the University of Nottingham, to discuss how the war between Israel and Hamas is evolving.

This episode explores the future of UK–EU relations in the light of current challenges.

In the spring of 2021, the Integrated Review signalled the UK's future approach to European security post-Brexit, with an ambitious agenda for 'Global Britain'. Over two years on, there is a palpable sense that the UK may have turned a corner in its relations with the EU, with the ‘Windsor Framework’ agreement in early 2023 ending the most bitter Brexit dispute. Perhaps for the first time since the 2016 vote to leave the EU, the UK can begin to look ahead with greater confidence to its place in Europe and the wider world.

Host Neil Melvin ponders with Richard Whitman, Director of the Global Europe Centre and Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent, whether the UK has found a new post-Brexit foreign and security policy, and discusses how the UK is approaching wider European security framework questions such as NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force.

Over a year and a half after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and with both sides incurring significant losses, is the conflict coming to a standstill?

In February 2022, Moscow aimed to seize Ukraine quickly. But 20 months later, the war grinds on inconclusively, with untold human suffering.

Both sides are looking to restock, rearm and mobilise new troops. Ukraine is now coming up against serious constraints on what more can be provided from Western stocks, and there is growing political unease in Europe and the US about the implications of a long-term commitment to Kyiv.

Is the conflict heading for deadlock, and if so, what are the implications for the region? What is the risk of a protracted war? And how can Russia best be managed and deterred in the medium and long term?

Host Neil Melvin is joined by Dr Mark Galeotti, Senior Associate Fellow at RUSI and Principal Executive Director of Mayak Intelligence, as well as Honorary Professor at University College London’s School of Slavonic and East European Studies, to discuss some of these questions.

As we explore the evolving nature of South Korean foreign and security policies, we ask whether the country is emerging as a more significant international actor.

South Korea’s foreign and security policies have traditionally been defined by regional interests and, above all, the unresolved conflict with North Korea. However, in recent years, South Korea has expanded its foreign policy horizons. In 2022, it adopted its own Indo-Pacific Strategy. Seoul has also backed sanctions against Russia in support of Ukraine’s independence. In addition, it has actively supported the G7’s coordination of the response to the war, and the South Korean president has attended recent NATO summits.

This new foreign policy direction is divisive domestically. In this episode, host Neil Melvin asks Professor Ramon Pacheco Pardo, Head of the Department of European and International Studies and Professor of International Relations at King’s College London, about the nature of South Korea as a foreign policy actor. How should Seoul seek to position itself in the rising confrontation between the US and its allies on the one hand, and Russia and China on the other?

In the final part of our examination of challenges to the Western liberal order, we take a look at the likely future shape of global security.

Previously on GSB, we asked Professor Stephen Walt whether an alternative international order, challenging the existing one, is emerging. We then had discussions with country experts sharing their analysis of the main challenges to the West across various parts of the world, and whether these regions will play significant roles in shaping the future international order.

To bring all these threads together, host Neil Melvin is joined by Paul Poast, associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago and a non-resident fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. What might the future of global security look like? What sort of international order are we moving towards? And what are the risks in the emerging international order, including those of major wars?

In this episode , we turn to three key regions shaping the discussion around whether a counter-West order is emerging.

So far in our summer series, we’ve explored whether an alternative international order is challenging the global governance system established after the Second World War, and what the implications are for global security. Africa, Latin America and the Middle East hold unique viewpoints, and while each region has distinct historical, economic and political dynamics, they collectively contribute to the ongoing discourse and developments linked to global power shifts. These regions are also rapidly emerging as arenas in which Western and counter-West states are competing for influence and access to resources. Host Neil Melvin is joined by Carlos Solar, Tobias Borck and Simon Rynn from the International Security team at RUSI to consider how developments across these regions are shaping their role in a new world order.

In the second episode of our four-part summer series, we explore the role that Russia, China and Iran play in countering the Western-led international order.

Russia, China and Iran have become increasingly confrontational in both rhetoric and actions, advocating for alternative frameworks and principles that reflect and advance their own geopolitical interests.

They argue that we are witnessing a shift towards a multipolar world where power is more evenly distributed, and that this is the basis for a new global order. The war in Ukraine seems to have solidified not only the trilateral grouping as an anti-Western bloc, but also its resolve. Our host Neil Melvin is joined by Emily Ferris, Research Fellow at RUSI; Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, Senior Research Fellow at RUSI; and Philip Shetler-Jones, Thematic Coordinator, Crisis Management, Enhancing Security Cooperation In and With Asia (ESIWA) project, to discuss how these three players are shaping the new security landscape.

The first in a four-part summer series, this episode addresses the apparent weakening of the liberal international order established after the Second World War and the rise of a counter-West axis.

Since 1945, the liberal international order has been anchored by Western powers – centrally the US – promoting the principles of democracy, human rights, free trade and multilateralism. This order has played a central role in shaping global governance structures, including institutions like the UN, the World Bank, the IMF and NATO. However, in recent years, the liberal international order has faced numerous challenges. The relative decline of US power – characterised by economic shifts, political polarisation and domestic US concerns – has raised doubts about the US's willingness and ability to continue its global leadership role. And opportunities have emerged for other actors to assert themselves on the global stage.

In this episode, host Neil Melvin is joined by Stephen Walt, the Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School and a renowned scholar in the field of international relations, to discuss the future of the global order. Is an alternative world order emerging? Which countries are involved in a systematic challenge to the existing international order, and in what capacities?

 

As NATO leaders and experts gather for the Vilnius Summit, we consider the rapid changes to Europe’s security environment.

Russia’s war against Ukraine has undoubtedly transformed European security forever, but these developments are taking place in the context of wider regional shifts. While NATO and the EU are being strengthened, the continent is also seeing growing sub-regional security and defence cooperation, minilateralism and efforts at strategic autonomy. Host Neil Melvin is joined by Ivo Daalder, President of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and former US Ambassador to NATO, to discuss how the US views Europe’s changing security and defence environment. What role will Washington seek to play in shaping the continent’s future security arrangements?

With the Vilnius NATO summit fast approaching, we consider what arrangements need to be made to secure Ukraine’s sovereignty.

The current focus of the international community is on sustaining and developing Ukraine’s warfighting capabilities to defend its territory and repel the Russian aggression. But ahead of the July NATO summit in Vilnius, attention is also turning to the task of ensuring Ukraine’s longer-term security, with pressure growing to grant Ukraine new security guarantees or even membership of NATO.

While it is difficult to predict the exact situation that will prevail when major combat ceases, Russia is likely to remain a long-term threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty, society and economy, and the prospect of a return to full-scale war or a protracted conflict together with hybrid and disinformation operations remains high. In this episode, host Neil Melvin talks to Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Defence Minister of Ukraine from 2019 to 2020 and currently the Chairman of the Centre for Defence Strategies in Kyiv, about what arrangements need to be made to protect the future of Ukraine. What sort of security support will it need? What are the security arrangements that are being proposed at the Vilnius summit? And why are some NATO members reluctant to extend membership of the organisation to Ukraine?

Russia’s war in Ukraine has brought into focus the enduring links between Moscow and Beijing. How will this tandem shape the future of global competition?

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin on the eve of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022, where they released a joint statement proclaiming their ‘no limits’ partnership. Three weeks later, Russia invaded Ukraine. Beijing has subsequently walked a careful and rather ambiguous line over the conflict, refusing to condemn the invasion and resisting Western pressure to isolate Russia on the one hand, while on the other hand appearing reluctant to provide Russia with the military assistance needed to tip the war in its favour.

Many observers suggest that one of the most significant outcomes of the war will be a closer but asymmetrical alliance between Moscow and Beijing, with Russia in a much-reduced position. In this episode, host Neil Melvin discusses with Emily Ferris, Research Fellow at RUSI, and Raffaello Pantucci, Senior Associate Fellow, how the war is affecting this bilateral relationship. Is China ready to back Russia financially and militarily? How deep is the trust between Moscow and Beijing?

As Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emerges as the winner of Turkey’s presidential elections, we examine what this means for the country, the region and the world.

Erdoğan’s victory hardly came as a surprise. He had almost won in the first round, gaining 49.51% of the vote compared to 44.8% for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the 74-year-old retired civil servant leading the Republican People’s Party in alliance with other opposition movements. But ahead of the vote, there had been a real sense that Erdoğan faced a tough re-election battle, given Turkey’s skyrocketing inflation and the inadequate response to the earthquakes that devastated the country in February.

In this episode, host Neil Melvin talks to Dr Maryna Vorotnyuk, Associate Fellow at RUSI, and Dr Ziya Meral, Senior Associate Fellow at RUSI, about the impact of this victory. Why did Erdoğan win? Will Turkey stick to what Erdoğan calls a ‘balanced policy’ between NATO and Russia? And how close to China is Turkey prepared to move?

As the contours of a new Saudi Arabia emerge under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, we analyse domestic and foreign policy reforms in a changing Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia is arguably the most powerful Arab country, and one of the key regional powers in the Middle East today. But Saudi Arabia’s importance goes far beyond the region. Its territory includes the two holiest sites in Islam – Mecca and Medina – giving the Kingdom a special global status. Moreover, Saudi Arabia is the world’s most important oil exporter, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has served to emphasise its crucial role in international energy markets. Through its Crown Prince, the contours of a new Saudi foreign policy seem to be emerging. This includes a changing and often fractious relationship with the US and the West; an increasingly warm and perhaps strategic relationship with China; and a steadfast refusal to break with Russia over its war in Ukraine – regardless of Western pressure.

Host Neil Melvin sits down with RUSI Senior Research Fellow Tobias Borck to discuss the state of Saudi Arabia’s reform efforts. How is the Kingdom navigating the changing global environment, and specifically, how is it approaching its relations with global powers like the US, Russia and China? And does Europe fit into the equation at all?

As geopolitical competition intensifies, we look at the future trajectory of the UK–Africa relationship.

For over two decades, international conversations about Africa were dominated by Western aid and preoccupations with the Global War on Terrorism. But recently, with great and middle powers visibly competing for influence across Africa, a new layer of complexity has been added to relations. For countries such as the UK and France, knowing how and when to engage can be a challenge: both countries have chequered histories that include colonialism, centuries of trade and two-way migration, support for development and – in the UK’s case – profit from slavery as well as support for its abolishment.

Yet, Africa is a diverse and dynamic continent, and presents openings and opportunities to those who engage in the right way.. In this episode, Neil Melvin talks to Ted Elgar, Head of Research at the Coalition for Global Prosperity, and Simon Rynn, Senior Research Fellow for African Security at RUSI, to discuss the prospects for fruitful cooperation between the UK and Africa.

In early April, Finland became the newest member of NATO, significantly changing the Alliance’s northern flank, as well as deeply impacting Nordic and Baltic security in the face of the war in Ukraine.

The war has rapidly altered Finnish security policy. Almost immediately after the invasion, public support for NATO membership leaped from a steady 25% in favour to around 75%. On 18 May 2022, Finland and Sweden simultaneously submitted their official letters of application, and NATO heads of state and government invited them both to join the Alliance at the Madrid Summit on 29 June. As Finland officially joined the Alliance in April 2023, we examine the impact of this on the European security environment, as well as on the UK as a growing security actor in Northern Europe, and one with strong bilateral ties to Finland.

In this episode of the Global Security Briefing, host Neil Melvin sits down with Matti Pesu, Leading Researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), and Ed Arnold, Research Fellow for European Security at RUSI, to discuss how Finland’s security policy is changing and how NATO membership will likely change Finland as a European security actor. How will the UK–Finnish defence and security relationship develop, and where are the priority areas for enhanced cooperation?

Originally published 6 April 2023.

After over two years, the Bridging the Oceans podcast is coming to an end. Bridging the Oceans, hosted by Veerle Nouwens, was the first podcast dedicated specifically to the defence and security of the Indo-Pacific. It explored what the Indo-Pacific is, where its limits lay, and what the fast-evolving defence and security issues were in this dynamic part of the world.

Together with a diverse range of experts, the podcast analysed today’s top geopolitical questions in the Indo-Pacific, understanding how these were seen within the region itself, and considered how these issues may impact the wider region including the United Kingdom.

Launched against the backdrop of a deteriorating security environment in the Indo-Pacific, will AUKUS prove an effective counterbalance to Chinese dominance in the region?

AUKUS, the tripartite deal between the US, the UK and Australia, caused considerable surprise and French consternation when it was announced in 2021. It involves acquiring a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines for Australia, forecast to cost up to $368 billion between now and the mid-2050s, as well as aiming to boost defence capabilities, accelerate technological integration, and expand the industrial capacity of all three countries.

Beijing has branded the plan ‘a blatant act that constitutes serious nuclear proliferation risks, undermines the international non-proliferation system, fuels arms races, and hurts peace and stability in the region’.

In this episode, host Neil Melvin sits down with Dr Bates Gill, Executive Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Centre for China Analysis, and Professor Rory Medcalf, Head of the National Security College (NSC) at the Australian National University, to discuss the future of AUKUS. Can the three countries deliver on their high ambitions? Can AUKUS reinforce deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and change the security and defence calculations of China? This episode of Global Security Briefing was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, as part of our project ‘Meeting the Challenge of China in the Indo-Pacific’.

This episode focuses on how global energy trends have shaped the geopolitics of the MENA for much of the past century, and how they will continue to do so.

For over two decades, the region seemed to be losing a lot of its energy importance for the West. Both the US and European countries have sought to reduce their involvement in MENA geopolitics, declaring instead their intention to focus on the Indo-Pacific. This all changed with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent energy crisis in Europe. As European countries have scrambled to replace oil and gas supplies from Russia, they have returned to the MENA. Furthermore, later this year, the UAE will host COP28, the UN’s annual climate change conference.

Host Neil Melvin discusses with Tobias Borck, Research Fellow for Middle East Security at RUSI, the big developments in the geopolitics of energy in the MENA. How are the oil and gas producers of the MENA region reacting to the renewed interest from Europe and the West, and how are they positioning themselves internationally? For all this and more, tune in now!

Originally published 15 March 2023.

The recent annual meetings of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the National People’s Congress (NPC) - the ‘Two Sessions’ - have already confirmed the national budget, high-level personnel appointments, and noted China's foreign and security outlook.

Newly appointed Foreign Minister Qin Gang used tough language when discussing the US, while President Xi accused the West – led by the US – of seeking China's containment. Amid growing strains in the Sino-US relationship, our host Veerle Nouwens sits down with Bonny Lin, Senior Fellow for Asian Security and Director of the China Power Project at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC, to discuss the future trajectory of the bilateral relationship.

Following the announcement of the ‘Windsor Framework’ between the UK and Brussels over Northern Ireland’s trading arrangements - ending the most bitter Brexit dispute - there is a palpable sense that the UK may have turned a corner in its relations with the EU.

With the UK taking a leading role in support of Ukraine and in more broadly countering Russia , the country also seems to have to have reasserted itself as one of Europe’s leading powers. At home, the weakening of the Scottish Nationalist movement and their drive for independence has also brought a sense that another cloud hanging over the future of the UK has begun to pass. Perhaps for the first time since the 2016 vote to leave the EU, the UK can begin to look ahead with greater confidence about its place in Europe and the wider world.

However, the UK also faces considerable challenges operating outside major trading blocs and facing a complex and increasingly hostile international security environment. Join us on this edition of the Global Security Briefing as host Neil Melvin is joined by Dr. Richard Whitman, Senior Fellow on the UK in a Changing Europe initiative (University of Kent) to discuss just how the UK will navigate these important challenges. Outside the EU, but at the heart of European security, what does the UK now look like as a European security actor?

As we approach the one-year mark of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Global Security Briefing looks at the effects of the war, the potential risks for escalation, and what to expect in the future.

A year after Russia’s full-scale invasion began, the Ukrainian armed forces and population, with strong backing from a coalition of allies, have managed to blunt the attack. Russia has, however, begun to reorganise and learn from its mistakes. Host Neil Melvin sits down with Hanna Shelest, Director of Security Programmes at Foreign Policy Council ‘Ukrainian Prism’ and Editor-in-Chief at Ukraine Analytica, to discuss the future of this conflict, European security, and the eventual settlement of the war, which is likely to become the foundation for a new balance of power on the continent. Tune in now for in-depth analysis on the war the world is watching.

Originally published 15 February 2022. 

The current year is set to be a significant one for India, as it takes on both the G20 and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) presidencies – two landmark moments for the Modi government ahead of the highly anticipated general elections next year.

Host Veerle Nouwens sits down with Garima Mohan, Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, to discuss just what the Indian government hopes to achieve through these two significant positions. What impact will these events have on China–India relations? How does New Delhi view the G20 and SCO when compared to other minilaterals that India is engaging in? And what will count as a success for New Delhi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party? For answers to these questions and more, tune in now!

With growing uncertainty about the regional power balance in Nagorno-Karabakh, we analyse the concerns that another conflict could erupt.

For nearly 30 years, the confrontation over landlocked Nagorno-Karabakh persisted through numerous rounds of negotiations and a massive regional arms build-up between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In 2020, Azerbaijan launched an offensive using its modernised armed forces, overwhelming the Armenian defences and reclaiming the occupied territories as well as key parts of Karabakh itself. The agreement at the end of the conflict led to the introduction of a Russian peacekeeping force and proposals for new transport corridors to open up the region.

The war of 2020 also unsettled the region’s geopolitical balance, with Russia further weakened by the ongoing Ukraine war, and Turkey and Iran taking a stronger interest in the South Caucasus. Western countries are belatedly stepping up their engagement. What are the prospects of finding a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute and avoiding ethnic cleansing of the region?

Host Neil Melvin sits down with Laurence Broers from Conciliation Resources and Amanda Paul from the European Policy Centre to answer this very question. Tune in now!

After decades of peace, the Antarctic is emerging as a zone for future geopolitical competition.

While recent years have seen a growing international focus on the Arctic, the Earth’s southernmost region – governed by the 1959 Antarctic Treaty – has appeared divorced from wider polar tensions. However, in the last decade, China has expanded its presence and, along with Russia, has emerged as a disruptor of the existing system of Antarctic governance.

This episode of Global Security Briefing examines the core issues of dispute and how China and Russia are challenging the existing regional status quo. Can the governance of the region weather the current tensions? And how should Latin American countries – situated as gateways to the Antarctic but increasingly caught in the confrontation between the West, Russia and China – approach the region?

Neil Melvin is joined by Juan Pablo Toro, Executive Director of Athena Lab – Chile's foremost think tank on foreign and security issues – and Dr Carlos Solar, RUSI’s Senior Research Fellow in Latin American Security.

To welcome in the new year, the International Security Studies team at RUSI reviews the biggest stories from 2022 and what to look out for in 2023.

In the second instalment of the two-part seasonal special, host Neil Melvin is joined by Tobias Borck, Carlos Solar and Simon Rynn to discuss key developments in the Middle East, Latin America and Africa. What are the key threats to look out for in these regions? How are these regions engaging in the international security community and what kind of security actors are they shaping up to be? Join us to find out!

As the year comes to a close, the International Security Studies team at RUSI reviews the biggest stories from 2022 and what to look out for in 2023.

2022 has been a watershed year in the security sphere, from the war in Ukraine to major developments in the Indo-Pacific. This two-part seasonal special brings together the regional experts from RUSI’s International Security team. Host Neil Melvin is joined by Emily Ferris, Veerle Nouwens and Ed Arnold to discuss what to look out for in 2023. What lies ahead for Ukraine? What will be the key developments to look out for in East Asia and the Indo-Pacific? What is the future trajectory of security relations in Europe? Tune in to find out, and happy holidays from GSB!

Originally published 21 December 2022. 

Tough times lie ahead for Beijing, with a turbulent external environment now matched with domestic unrest.

To round out 2022, Veerle and Dr Sheena Chestnut Greitens, Associate Professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, UT Austin, reflect on a turbulent year for China policy. From a downward spiral in Sino-US relations and tensions over Taiwan, to the war in Ukraine and Beijing’s relationship with Moscow, this has been a tumultuous year. The search for a predictable framework to relations between China and the West provides some limited hope for 2023, but the fundamental differences between these actors remain, and another difficult year likely lies ahead.

As NATO prepares to welcome Sweden as a member, we examine what Stockholm’s security agenda could look like in the years ahead.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Sweden quickly announced its intention to seek NATO membership. This move marked a significant departure from the country’s previous military non-alignment. With a new right wing-led government in place, and the country awaiting Turkey and Hungary’s ratification of its NATO membership, Sweden has made clear that national interests are at the heart of its international agenda. The new government has moved away from the idea of a feminist foreign policy and has begun to increase defence spending and to reduce international development assistance. What lies ahead for Sweden on its NATO journey, and what kind of member will it become in the years ahead? How will Sweden’s security priorities change as a member of the Alliance? For answers to all this and more, tune in now!

As the conflict enters the harshest months of the year, wen discuss what the winter could mean for both sides.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine sent shockwaves around the world and has dominated the headlines ever since. Russia has focused heavily on seizing territory, and even formally annexed some regions in September. Moscow’s narratives of success have, however, been severely undercut by Ukrainian battlefield victories, the most recent of which, in Kherson, is seen by many as a turning point. As the war heads into its 10th month, Neil Melvin sits down with Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman of King's College London to discuss what the coming months will bring for both sides in the war. The onset of winter will test Ukraine’s ability to sustain its recent military successes, as well as Russia’s strategy of holding the Ukrainians along its new defensive line while drawing Kyiv into a protracted war. For in-depth analysis on likely scenarios and more, tune in now

As the final electoral results trickle in, we discusses what the midterm elections can tell us about the future of US domestic and foreign policies.

Neil Melvin sits down with Max Bergmann, Director of the Europe Program at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC. With an anticipated strong Republican win heralding the prospect of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the ballots were seen as a clear signpost as to the direction of travel of US politics, with a likely immediate impact on Washington’s foreign and security policy – especially its support for Ukraine. What do the results indicate about the larger political battle being prepared for the 2024 presidential elections? Could the world still be facing a shock on the scale of the election of Donald Trump in 2016?

Originally published 9 November 2022.

Six months in, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol still treads a careful balance on some policy matters.

Veerle speaks with Ms Saeme Kim, Korea Foundation Visiting Fellow in RUSI’s Indo-Pacific Programme from 2021–2022. Saeme explores the policy continuities and changes in the Republic of Korea (ROK) from former President Moon Jae-in to current President Yoon Suk-yeol, outlining the country’s soon-to-be-launched Indo-Pacific Strategy and some bold new endeavours with partners like the US.

As tensions with Beijing and Pyongyang remain, greater cooperation with partners in Europe and the Indo-Pacific could come at a cost in Seoul’s own immediate regional environment. Despite this, a more outward-facing and networked South Korea with expertise in specific subregions and policy areas is likely to materialise. The UK, in particular, stands to gain from working more closely with Seoul, and Saeme offers a few ideas in this regard.

As the world watches, protests continue to rage across Iran.

With protests continuing across the country, Dr Neil Melvin is joined by Dr Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, Senior Research Fellow, RUSI International Security Studies, to consider Iran’s future as it faces a changing regional and global security. They assess whether the protests can be a catalyst for domestic reform, and how these internal developments are shaping Iran’s foreign policy. What are the implications of Tehran’s growing relationship with Moscow for the war against Ukraine? What might future regional relations between Iran and China look like?

Originally published 26 October 2022.

Does the recent Congress indicate triumph or challenges ahead for China?

Veerle Nouwens speaks with two guests on China’s 20th Party Congress, in which Xi Jinping attained an unprecedented third term in office and brought in a set of personnel changes in Party governance. Raffaello Pantucci, RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, explores how Xi’s speech and the Party Congress’s work report indicate an emphasis on internal stability and continuity in domestic and foreign affairs, including on Taiwan. Dr Lai I-Chung, President of Taiwan’s Prospect Foundation, explores differences in language and the listing of topics in the work report as a possible indication of subtle messaging to audiences that Beijing is serious about reunification. An accelerated push for peaceful reunification is to be expected with below-the-threshold advances that circumvent official channels for communication across the strait, while Beijing will further limit Taiwan’s space on the international stage. For this, I-Chung has some ideas of how countries, including the UK, can help.

More than thirty years since independence, we look at how the nations of Central Asia are navigating shifting regional power dynamics and an evolving international security environment.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the nations of Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan – quickly transformed into authoritarian orders, while external investment in natural resources became the basis for the post-Soviet economies. Today, the region faces significant security challenges – the war in Ukraine has weakened Russia’s regional position, while the influence of China is palpable.

Join us as host Neil Melvin sits down with Professor David Lewis of the University of Exeter to discuss how Central Asia is evolving and adapting, and what the real prospects are for political and economic reform.

We discuss the future trajectory of the region in the context of the war in Ukraine, the coronavirus pandemic, and new leadership across the continent.

The global geopolitical architecture is shifting rapidly in the face of major events such as the war in Ukraine and the coronavirus pandemic. Latin America is having to contend with these changes, as well as regional challenges of transnational organised crime, cybersecurity and public health threats.

As the region welcomes several new leaders and the political landscape morphs, host Neil Melvin sits down with RUSI Senior Research Fellow for Latin America Carlos Solar to discuss how all these factors are transforming the role of the region on the world stage. What are the most tangible effects of the war in Ukraine on Latin America? What are the effects of Putin’s influence in the region? Can the US and UK strengthen their military and diplomatic alliances in the region in the face of political realignments, or is it too late?

Originally published 28 September 2022. 

As strategic and economic interest in the region grows, how can states around the Indian Ocean and their partners mitigate the risk of conflict?

Jeffrey Payne of the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies in Washington joins Veerle and Aaditya to discuss growing competition in the Indian Ocean region. Why has interest in the region among nuclear maritime states – including India, China and the US – grown steadily over recent years? They consider the strategic risks to the region as a nuclear flashpoint and what steps could be taken to stabilise it.

Originally published 23 September 2022.

What lessons can be learned from the war in Ukraine when tackling the cross-strait crisis?

In this special episode of Bridging the Oceans, Veerle speaks with Yuichi Hosoya of Keio University, Tokyo about the parallels between the war in Ukraine and the current standoff over Taiwan, and the extent to which these comparisons are valid. They examine escalation scenarios across the Taiwan Strait, in light of Russia’s pattern of behaviour before invading Ukraine. And they discuss what role Japan could play in the maintenance of peace and stability in the region, as well as which key networks and strategic alliances Japan will be relying on.

Japan is looking to play a larger role in global security as the country faces new external threats. It is increasing commitments to national defence and seeking to move beyond key political and constitutional constraints placed on the country’s security policies after the Second World War.

Philip Shetler-Jones, a James Cook Associate Fellow in Indo-Pacific Geopolitics at the Council on Geostrategy, is our guest for this episode. He discusses with Dr Neil Melvin, Director, International Security Studies at RUSI, how Japan is responding to the growing military confrontation in the Indo-Pacific region. Increased defence spending, new roles for the Japanese military, and a revised foreign and security policy that includes remaking Japan’s defence alliances are all considered.

Originally published 14 September 2022.

Will UK foreign policy under Liz Truss be business as usual or a radical departure?

While the UK’s relations with China have been strained in recent years, Raffaello Pantucci, Senior Associate Fellow at RUSI, explains how current policy towards China may experience a radical shift and, should that happen, what the repercussions would be. Similarly, the Hon. Alexander Downer, the former Australian foreign minister, joins Veerle in exploring Liz Truss’ views on the Indo-Pacific, how she may need to balance realities in both the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions, and whether a values-driven foreign policy will resonate with Indo-Pacific partners.

A new security space is emerging around the Red Sea. Encompassing the East Mediterranean and the northern Indian Ocean, the region is seeing increasing strategic competition between countries from the Gulf, the Middle East and North Africa, Asia and the Horn of Africa, as well as Europe and the US.

The shifting security environment in this complex and diverse region is the topic for this episode. Dr Tobias Borck, RUSI Research Fellow for Middle East Security Studies, and Dr Simon Rynn, RUSI Senior Research Fellow for African Security, join Dr Neil Melvin, Director, International Security Studies at RUSI. They look at how increasing international competition over energy, transport infrastructure and defences ties is reshaping long-established relationships and foreign and security policies.

Originally published 31 August 2022.

Thoughts from Japan on the recent cross-strait tensions and a look at what lies ahead

In this episode, Veerle speaks with Li Hao, Research Fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), about the Japanese reaction to Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit to Taiwan and China’s subsequent live-fire drills in the region. They discuss the direct impacts the military exercises have had on Japan and consider the larger implications these events may have on Japan’s economy and security policy in the future. They also look at the possibility of war breaking out in the region and what Japan’s role could be in moderating and mitigating harm.

This episode traces the roots of growing tensions between China and the US over Taiwan, and assesses the danger of war between the two superpowers over the island’s fate.

Veerle Nouwens, RUSI Senior Research Fellow in the security of the Indo-Pacific, and Bonnie Glaser, Director of the Asia Programme at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, Director, International Security Studies at RUSI, the origins of the dispute between the US and China over Taiwan, the current state of relations, and the prospects of a conflict developing between Washington and Beijing.

Originally published 19 August 2022. 

Reflections from Taipei offer a different perspective on recent cross-Strait tensions.

In this episode, Veerle speaks with activist Brian Hioe, a founder of the New Bloom Magazine – an online magazine covering activism and youth politics in Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific – about the Taiwanese reaction to US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit and China’s subsequent live-fire military drills.

While the latter marked an escalation in tensions and tactics, Taiwanese officials and their public have declined to be alarmed. Meanwhile, Chinese economic sanctions have also not inflicted serious harm. Rather than intimidating Taipei, Beijing’s behaviour may have inadvertent and self-defeating repercussions in upcoming Taiwanese local elections and the political scene. Tune in to find out what lies ahead in Taiwanese domestic politics, military reforms, and the island’s foreign relationships.

This episode considers where Russia’s war against Ukraine stands nearly five months after it began, as the conflict enters a potentially pivotal moment with Ukraine planning to mount a counteroffensive to reclaim lost territory.

Edward Arnold, our Research Fellow in European Security, and Dr Neil Melvin, RUSI International Security Studies Director, explore Russia’s political aims, how Ukraine is planning to move onto the offensive in key areas with increased supplies of NATO military equipment, and whether the war risks becoming a far more protracted conflict.

Originally published on 30 June 2022. 

As the war in Ukraine rages on, Japan debates its next security steps.

Veerle is joined by Tetsuo Kotani, Professor at Meikai University and Senior Fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs. They explore the level of Japanese domestic support for sanctions policy on Russia, and the ongoing Sino-Russian military activities at sea around Japan and in Japan’s airspace. They also ask whether the ongoing situation in Ukraine is impacting Japan’s view of its national security and defence strategy, and what Japan’s expected outcomes are from the NATO summit in Madrid.

This episode considers the agenda for the NATO Madrid Summit as the organisation faces an unprecedented challenge in responding to the war against Ukraine and the wider threats that Russia, as well as China, present to the Alliance.

In this episode, Dr Thierry Tardy, Director of the Research Division at the NATO Defence College, discusses with Dr Neil Melvin, Director, RUSI International Security Studies, what is on the agenda for the NATO Madrid Summit, how the Alliance is seeking to adapt, what will be in the Alliance’s new Strategic Concept, and how NATO is likely to develop in the future as regional and global geopolitical competition intensifies.

This episode examines the evolving Belarus–Russia defence and security relationship at a time when Minsk has become closely intertwined with Russia’s war against Ukraine, and as Aleksandr Lukashenko, Belarus’ authoritarian president, is increasingly reliant on political support from Russia to remain in power.

RUSI’s Emily Ferris and Dr Akady Moshes, Programme Director for the EU Eastern Neighbourhood and Russia research programme at the Finnish Institute for International Affairs, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, RUSI’s Director for International Security Studies, the evolving security relationship between Belarus and Russia and the extent to which Belarus has lost its autonomy and has become politically and militarily integrated with Russia

This episode examines how the South Caucasus states of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are being affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine. The crisis comes at a time when the region is already experiencing significant changes as a result of the second Karabakh war and growing external competition for influence from Russia, Turkey, Iran and China. It also occurs as the transatlantic community considers its future approach to Black Sea security.

Natia Seskuria, Director of the Regional Institute of Security Studies in Tbilisi and RUSI Associate Fellow, and Richard Giragosian, Director of the Regional Studies Centre in Yerevan, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, Director, RUSI International Security Studies, the implications for the wider Black Sea security space, and trace developments in the region’s protracted conflicts.

Originally published on 25 May 2022.

A post-Duterte presidency offers opportunities for policy shifts.

In this episode of Bridging the Oceans, Veerle is joined by Julio S Amador III, Founder and CEO of Amador Research Services. Together, they discuss the recent elections in the Philippines, which saw Marcos Jr elected as the new president of the country. Following President Duterte, whose relations with Beijing grew ever closer, what shape will Philippine foreign policy towards the US and China take? And what national defence and security policies are likely to emerge under a new Marcos administration? Finally, to what extent does the ongoing war in Ukraine impact Manila’s foreign and domestic policies?

This episode examines the evolving approach of the UK to security and defence in the Arctic, as the region undergoes significant shifts due to climate change, Russia’s increasingly aggressive foreign policy and military modernisation, and non-Arctic states – notably China – taking an increasing interest in the region’s security.

Dr Duncan Depledge from the International Relations, Politics and History department of Loughborough University and Dr Caroline Kennedy-Pipe, Professor of War Studies at Loughborough, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, Director, International Security Studies at RUSI, how the UK has sought to upgrade its policies towards the Arctic as a ‘near Arctic state’, and how it has begun to rebuild its security and defence engagement with Arctic partner countries as a result of Russia’s growing strength in the region.

Originally published 11 May 2022. 

France remains fully committed to its new Indo-Pacific Strategy, but implementation will be crucial.

In this episode, Veerle is joined by Dr Antoine Bondaz, Director of the Korea and Taiwan Programmes at the Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique (FRS). Together, they discuss domestic and foreign policy pressures on France’s new strategy, and what Indo-Pacific-related achievements have emerged from its presidency of the EU Council. They explore how France’s relationships in the Indo-Pacific are evolving – with China, Taiwan, India, Japan and Australia – and what Europe must do to make its engagement in the region a success, despite pressures closer to home.

Originally published 5 May 2022.

Hosts Darya Dolzikova and Tobias Borck wrap up this season of 'Mind the Gulf' podcasts with a discussion on the current state of the Iran nuclear negotiations and possible future trajectories with guests Dr Naysan Rafati (International Crisis Group) and Dr Cinzia Bianco (European Council on Foreign Relations).

The discussion touches on the dynamics at play in Washington, Tehran and Europe, and on their likely implications for the future of regional security in the Gulf.

The evolving role of NATO in the Arctic and High North is examined as the alliance looks to adapt its existing engagement and develop new responses to the fast-shifting regional security environment.

Brigadier Robbie Boyd, formerly of the British Army and currently Managing Partner at Gartner, and Katarina Kertysova, Policy Fellow at the European Leadership Network and Global Fellow at the Kennan and Polar Institutes of the Wilson Centre in Washington, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, Director, International Security Studies at RUSI, the role that NATO is seeking to establish in the Arctic and High North, as tensions in the region increase and as European security undergoes significant shifts in the wake of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Originally published 27 April 2022.

While the war in Ukraine ravages on, Taiwan is watching and learning.

In this episode, Veerle is joined by Dr Norah Huang, Director for International Relations at the Prospect Foundation in Taipei, to explore similarities between the current war in Ukraine and potential cross-Strait scenarios. They ask what lessons Beijing and Taipei might be learning from the war in Ukraine, and discuss what this means for Taiwan’s future relations with the US and Europe.

Originally published 21 April 2022. 

Hosts Darya Dolzikova and Tobias Borck look at the UK’s relationships with Iran and the Gulf monarchies, as well as London’s role in nuclear diplomacy with Iran and regional security.

Their guests Dr Sanam Vakil (Chatham House) and Professor Ali Ansari (St Andrews) trace the UK’s long history in the Gulf, and highlight the challenges facing policymakers in London.

Originally published 21 April 2022.

India’s non-aligned position is under increasing pressure.

Veerle is joined by Aaditya Dave, RUSI Research Analyst, to discuss India’s reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the domestic discourse and policy debate in New Delhi, and the divergent course that India has taken from its Quad partners. They also discuss UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s current visit to New Delhi as part of the ‘Indo-Pacific Tilt’, and what opportunities lie ahead for European partners to deepen their bilateral relations with India.

This episode explores how changing security and defence dynamics in the Arctic and High North are affecting Europe, and how northern European states are seeking to upgrade their Arctic policies in response. The cases of Denmark and Estonia are considered in detail.

Dr Mikkel Runge Olesen, Senior Researcher for Foreign Policy and Diplomacy at the Danish Institute for International Studies, and Tomas Jermalavicius, Head of Studies at the International Centre for Defence and Security in Estonia, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, Director, International Security Studies at RUSI, how Europe has had to adapt its Arctic and High North defence and security policies because of Russia’s changed regional position and against the backdrop of rising tensions. The approaches of Denmark, as an Arctic state, and Estonia, as a country increasingly part of the broad northern security space linking the Arctic and Baltic regions, are considered.

Originally published 7 April 2022. 

In this episode, hosts Darya Dolzikova and Tobias Borck discuss Israel’s perspective on Iran, the Iranian nuclear programme, and wider regional security.

Their guest, Professor Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow, Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Programme, explains why Israel sees Iran as the main threat to its security, and suggests that Israel’s threats to destroy Iranian nuclear facilities should be taken seriously.

This episode considers the implications of Russia’s increasingly aggressive foreign and defence policies for peace and security in the Arctic, and how China’s growing interest in the polar territories is further reshaping regional relations.

Dr Katarzyna Zysk, Professor of International Relations and Contemporary History at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, and Dr Camilla Sørensen, Associate Professor at the Institute for Strategy and War Studies at the Royal Danish Defence College, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, RUSI Director of International Security Studies, how the security and defence environment of the Arctic has undergone far-reaching shifts, with Russia pursuing military modernisation and a destabilising foreign and security policy towards the transatlantic community, and China’s interests in the Arctic growing rapidly.

Originally published 1 April 2022.

Tactics below the threshold of war will need continued attention.

In this episode, Veerle is joined by Alexander Neill, an analyst and consultant on Asia-Pacific geopolitical risk and security, foreign affairs and defence based in Singapore.

They discuss current RUSI research on state-led interference as a tool of geopolitical competition below the threshold of warfare, and how this is experienced in the Indo-Pacific. They examine how the debate around this topic is evolving here and in Southeast Asia; do we see the challenge of illegitimate sub-threshold competition and experience such activities in the same way? They highlight noteworthy instances that have brought the issue of interference and disinformation into the spotlight, explore what countermeasures have been put in place, and consider what the road ahead might look like.

Originally published 24 March 2022. 

Hosts Darya Dolzikova and Tobias Borck look at the UAE’s perspectives on Iran and its nuclear programme, as well as regional security.

They are joined by Sheikha Najla Al-Qassimi (B’Huth), who explains how the UAE balances its deep security concerns about Iran’s behaviour in the region and its extensive trading relations with the Islamic Republic. She also touches on the UAE’s views of the US, Russia and China. In addition, Darya and Tobias discuss the latest developments in the region and the nuclear talks.

This episode examines the ongoing international negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, the implications of a potential nuclear agreement for security in the Middle East and Iran’s regional policies, and the likely future Middle East role of the United States and European powers.

Dr.Tobias Borck, Research Fellow for Middle East Security Studies, and Darya Dolzikova, Research Fellow in Proliferation and Nuclear Policy programme, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, Director, International Security Studies at RUSI, the efforts to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to regulate Tehran’s nuclear programme. The relationship between Iran’s nuclear activities and its regional security engagements is examined, together with a consideration of the possible future regional engagement by the United States and European states.

Originally published 16 March 2021.

The repercussions of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine go far beyond Europe.

Veerle is joined by Jimbo Ken, Professor in International Relations at Keio University. While Ukraine seems geographically remote as seen from Tokyo, the impact of the war can be felt in Japan’s relations with Russia and China. The war has heightened Japan’s concerns that China may attempt something similar through a forceful takeover of Taiwan. Japan has therefore joined the West in placing sanctions on Russia and sending non-lethal equipment to Ukraine – an unprecedented move for Tokyo. A more forward-leaning, assertive Japan is in the making.

Originally published 10 March 2022. 

In this episode, hosts Darya Dolzikova and Tobias Borck discuss Qatar and Oman’s perspectives on Iran, its nuclear programme and regional security.

Dr Andreas Krieg from King’s College London describes Qatar’s unique position in the region and explains how the country balances relations with Iran and its Arab neighbours. Turki al-Bulushi (Bloomberg) explains why neutrality is a core principle of Omani foreign policy, even in relations with its Gulf neighbours. Darya and Tobias also assess the latest developments in the region and the Iran nuclear talks.

This episode explores how Russia’s war on Ukraine is affecting security far beyond central Europe. Members of RUSI’s International Security Studies team examine the ways in which international relations are being reshaped by the conflict and consider what such developments will mean in key security regions around the world.

Veerle Nouwens, Senior Research Fellow and lead of the Indo-Pacific programme, Dr Tobias Borck, Research Fellow for Middle East Security Studies, and Edward Arnold, Research Fellow for European Security Studies, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, Director International Security Studies, the impact of Russia’s decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, China and the Indo-Pacific.

Originally published 2 March 2022.

Veerle is joined by Lisa Curtis, Senior Fellow and Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Programme at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS).

The Biden administration’s new strategy highlights the importance of prosperity. However, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework still lacks details, while the Ukraine conflict is testing allies and partners both in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Once again, the ties between the two regions are evident and place the US Indo-Pacific Strategy in a renewed context.

Originally published 24 February 2022.

Hosts Darya Dolzikova and Tobias Borck discuss Bahrain and Kuwait’s perspectives on the Iranian nuclear question and on broader regional security matters

Hasan Alhasan, Research Fellow for Middle East Policy at IISS, explains why Bahrain feels threatened by Iran and is sceptical about a regional security dialogue, and Amnah Ibraheem, Visiting Scholar at the American University of Kuwait, outlines Kuwait’s unique position bordering both Saudi Arabia and Iran and its preference for multilateral diplomacy. Darya and Tobias also address the latest developments in the region.

This episode examines the future of international efforts to build stability, prevent conflict and meet security challenges in the most fragile and conflict-affected states and societies around the world following the perceived failure of Western-led stabilisation efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Simon Rynn, RUSI Senior Research Fellow for African security, Ahmed Hassen, RUSI Associate Fellow, and Ada James Emanuel, an independent researcher, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, Director, RUSI International Security Studies, the set of ideas that underpin international stabilisation efforts, the experience of applying these concepts over the past two decades, lessons learnt, and the future challenges of promoting stabilisation as geopolitical competition becomes an increasingly important part of regional conflicts. The contemporary experiences of Somalia and northeast Nigeria are considered.

Originally published 10 February 2022.

Hosts Darya Dolzikova and Tobias Borck discuss the Saudi Arabian strategic perspective with Mohammed Alyahya, former editor-in-chief of the Al-Arabiya English TV network.

Mohammed outlines Saudi Arabia’s views on regional security, Iran and its nuclear programme, and explains why he is sceptical that a new nuclear deal can lead to improved relations between Iran and its Arab neighbours. Darya and Tobias also briefly discuss the latest developments in the nuclear negotiations and regional security.

This episode examines the crisis in relations between Russia and NATO, precipitated by Moscow’s large-scale build-up of military forces around Ukraine and its accompanying demands to remake the European security order.

In this episode, Dr Sergei Utkin, Head of Strategic Assessments at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Dr Mark Galeotti, RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, Director RUSI International Security Studies, the nature of the crisis that has developed over Russia’s military threat to Ukraine. They assess Russia’s demands to reshape European security, the factors that have propelled the crisis, Moscow’s relations with NATO, and the future of the continent’s security order.

This episode examines how Russia is seeking to develop its economy as part of the green transition. It considers both the opportunities and the challenges the country faces in taking advantage of the economic and technological shifts emerging from efforts to counter climate change, at a time of growing confrontation with the transatlantic community. 

Dr Igor Makarov, assistant professor at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, discusses with Dr Neil Melvin, Director RUSI International Security Studies, Russia’s efforts to promote the green transition – the shift to new technologies, sustainable industry and transport, and the development of new raw materials – and move away from its current reliance on a hydrocarbon economy. The discussion touches on the domestic and international drivers of change, and the barriers that may prevent Russia from taking advantage of new opportunities. 

Originally published 27 January 2022.

In the first episode of 'Mind the Gulf', hosts Darya Dolzikova and Tobias Borck introduce the series and speak with Professor Nasser Hadian from the University of Tehran about Iranian views on regional security and the nuclear question.

The podcast starts with Darya outlining the trajectory of international diplomacy around the Iranian nuclear programme and providing a quick backgrounder on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the ongoing negotiations in Vienna. Tobias then gives a brief overview of how the often tense relations between Iran and other states in the Gulf and the wider Middle East have shaped regional security for the past half century.

Later in the episode, Professor Hadian outlines Iran's key concerns, its relationship with Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states, and the interaction between Iran's foreign policy and its nuclear programme, as well as offering his thoughts on the future of the JCPOA. 

The podcast is part of RUSI's Iran in the Global Security Context project.

Originally published 22 December 2021. 

AUKUS helps build regional deterrence, yet more is needed beyond defence cooperation.

Veerle is joined by Dr Zack Cooper, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, who offers insights on how AUKUS fits into US strategic thinking on meeting the rising challenges in the Indo-Pacific for the US and its allies. Further cooperation beyond exclusive groupings focused on defence is needed, particularly in the areas of technology, trade and governance, and Zack explains how Europe and Indo-Pacific partners stand to play an important role. Tune in also for a discussion on what is meant by integrated deterrence.

This episode examines how the UK and Russia are approaching the interlinked challenges of climate change and the transition from hydrocarbon reliance to ‘green’ energy, and explores how these issues are shaping the domestic and foreign policies of the two countries, as well as their bilateral relationship.

Professor Michael Bradshaw, Professor of Global Energy at the University of Warwick Business School, and Maria Pastukhova, Senior Policy Advisor in the energy and climate change think tank E3G’s Berlin office, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, Director RUSI International Security Studies, how efforts to tackle climate change and manage the energy transition away from carbon resources are affecting the geoeconomics of the UK–Russia relationship, and consider the potential for joint work in this area as the bilateral relationship has become increasingly confrontational.

Originally published 8 December 2021.

In this episode, Veerle is joined by Dr Michito Tsuruoka, Associate Professor at Keio University in Japan to explore Japan’s reaction to the announcement of AUKUS, what this means for Japan’s immediate security environment, and how it fits into the regional security architecture.

Tokyo will need to think critically what role it has to play in the Indo-Pacific’s defence and security landscape: will Japan be a passive participant or will it assume a more active role, on par with its closest strategic partners? Tokyo will need to overcome current legal, bureaucratic, and political hurdles .

In this episode, Fiona Hill (Brookings Institution), former deputy assistant to President Donald Trump and senior director for European and Russian affairs on the National Security Council, talks to Neil Melvin about US policy towards Russia, European security, and her new book on the populist challenges in the US and the UK.

Fiona Hill is currently the Robert Bosch senior fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe in the Foreign Policy programme at Brookings. Before serving in key roles in the Trump administration, she was national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia working under Presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama. In this episode, Dr Hill discusses with Neil Melvin, Director RUSI International Security Studies, the urgent challenge of resisting Russian actions in Eastern Europe, and notably Ukraine; the need for Europe to take a united approach to Russia; and the imperative of addressing socioeconomic inequality in the US and the UK to counter the rise of populist politics.

Originally published 24 November 2021.

The defence partnership has divided opinion and frayed some partnerships. For Southeast Asia, the stakes are high, but consensus on AUKUS remains elusive.

Veerle is joined by Dr Collin Koh, Research Fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. Dr Koh explains that Southeast Asian countries can largely be divided into three camps in their responses to AUKUS, with a particularly interesting analysis of Cambodia’s strategic outlook. The new partnership highlights once again some difficult questions for Southeast Asian countries regarding how to manage their own regional security, while maintaining ASEAN centrality and navigating growing tensions between the US and Beijing.

This episode examines the re-emergence of the concept of strategic stability as a means of managing security relations between Russia and the transatlantic community and avoiding war.

Following Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its military intervention in eastern Ukraine, the confrontation between Russia and NATO has become increasingly dangerous. In 2021, Presidents Putin and Biden launched a dialogue to manage rising tensions focused on promoting strategic stability in their relations. In this episode, Professor Andrey Kortunov, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council, and Professor Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director-General of RUSI, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, Director RUSI International Security Studies, the value that ideas of strategic stability have for addressing growing nuclear and conventional tensions, and consider how the UK and Russia might improve their own bilateral security relationship through a strategic stability dialogue.