Policy area: Foreign policy

Reports

Towards an EU ‘defence union’?

This report from UK think tank the Centre for European Reform takes stock of the EU’s involvement in defence, its challenges and its prospects. The need for Europeans to urgently strengthen their defences is clearer than ever. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has pushed European countries to raise their defence budgets significantly, but huge challenges...

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Did Wagner succeed in the eyes of its African and Middle Eastern clients?

This report from UK think tank RUSI looks at the Wagner Group from the perspective of its African and Middle Eastern clients. This Whitehall Report looks at the Wagner Group from the perspective of its African and Middle Eastern clients, focusing on four case studies: Mali, the Central African Republic, Mozambique and Syria. Why did...

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Questionable counting: Analysing the death toll from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza

This report from UK think tank the Henry Jackson Society looks at the numbers used in reporting on the Gaza conflict. On 7 October 2023, Hamas militants launched a war on Israel. After Israel launched its military response, media outlets around the world began to report on death tolls in Gaza, frequently citing numbers from...

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Navigating clean energy industries and rivalry in decarbonisation

This report from UK think tank RUSI looks at navigating clean energy industries and rivalry in decarbonisation. In this research paper, Dan Marks and James Henderson address a series of questions, including how to ensure the security of production networks while simultaneously decarbonising rapidly and affordably, promoting innovation and maximising local economic benefits. They argue...

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The Joint Expeditionary Force and its contribution to European security

This report from UK think tank RUSI this paper provides recommendations for the UK to strengthen the Joint Expeditionary Force. As the new UK government undertakes its Strategic Defence Review, this paper provides recommendations for the UK to strengthen the Joint Expeditionary Force to increase its value to NATO and best contribute to European security....

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China’s strategic options in the Euro-Atlantic

This report from UK think tank RUSI seeks to outline the likely scope of a putative presence of the People’s Liberation Army Navy in and around the Euro-Atlantic in the next 15 years. This paper seeks to outline the likely scope of a putative presence of the People’s Liberation Army Navy in and around the...

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The impact of a Taiwan Strait crisis on European defence

This report from UK think tank RUSI examines which US capabilities will be most relevant in a potential Taiwan crisis, as well as which are of utility both in Europe and in a Taiwan contingency. This report examines which US capabilities will be most relevant in a potential Taiwan crisis, as well as which are...

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Retying the Caucasian knot: Russia’s evolving approach to the South Caucasus

This report from UK think tank RUSI explores the challenge to Russia’s established position in the South Caucasus as the region undergoes significant change. This paper explores the challenge to Russia’s established position in the South Caucasus as the region undergoes significant change. Russia and the Euro-Atlantic community now find that their reach exceeds their...

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European common debt

This report from UK think tank the Centre for European Reform presents an analysis of EU defence bonds, their benefits and feasibility. European security is under threat and Europeans are trying to strengthen their defences. However, addressing long-standing gaps in military capabilities will require time, a sustained fiscal effort, and enhanced co-ordination. Constraints on national...

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The military use of AI: Challenges and opportunities for Taiwan

This report from UK think tank RUSI examines the challenges and opportunities Taiwan will need to consider for the military application of AI. This paper examines the challenges and opportunities Taiwan will need to consider for the military application of AI. Increasing cross-strait tensions between mainland China and Taiwan suggest the need for the latter...

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Azerbaijan’s climate leadership challenge

This report from UK think tank Chatham House examines what’s at stake at COP29 and beyond. Azerbaijan hosts the UN’s 29th climate Conference of the Parties (COP29), from 11 to 22 November, at a critical moment for multilateral efforts to address climate change. Climate impacts are worsening, yet action is inadequate to the scale of...

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Four scenarios for the end of the war in Ukraine

This report from UK think tank Chatham House assesses the political and economic challenges ahead for the end of the war in Ukraine. There are four possible outcomes for Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine: ‘long war’, ‘frozen conflict’, ‘victory for Ukraine’ and ‘defeat for Ukraine’. Regardless of which scenario emerges, the far-reaching and traumatic sociological,...

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Protecting the force from uncrewed aerial systems

This report from UK think tank RUSI outlines the core tasks and capabilities required to provide coherent, layered C-UAS protection. This paper outlines the core tasks and capabilities required by NATO members to provide coherent, layered protection from uncrewed aerial systems. The impact of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) on land operations has been a subject...

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Living with the Dragon

This report from UK think tank Civitas examines what a coherent UK policy towards China would look like. China is becoming the most serious challenge to UK and the West, due to its economic growth, military strength, and fast-developing foreign policy in relation to its territorial claims and record on human rights. These developments are...

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Ore to ordinance: Disrupting Russia’s artillery supply chains

This report from UK think tank RUSI and the Open Source Centre looks at disrupting Russia's artillery supply chains. This report focuses on Russia’s artillery supply chain, as artillery is central to the invasion of Ukraine and has inflicted more than 70% of Ukraine’s casualties. Disrupting Russia’s access to ammunition and new artillery barrels should...

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Related Events

18 February 2025

Location: Online

Think tank: UK in a Changing Europe

Choices and challenges for UK foreign policy

This event hosted by UK think tank UK in a Changing Europe will explore the key foreign policy issues facing the Labour government. We are living through a period of profound geopolitical, ecological and technological transformation. How will these impact on UK foreign policy choices?   More specifically, what choices might the new Government make? How...

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What’s in President Biden’s foreign policy in-tray? (Part 2)

President Biden arrives in office with a full foreign policy in-tray, albeit one that will have to compete for attention with myriad domestic priorities from tackling run-away virus to repairing the foundations of its own democracy. Most of America’s traditional allies will let out a huge sigh of relief that his predecessor has left the...

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What’s in President Biden’s foreign policy in-tray? (Part 1)

The Taiwan Straits maybe the most volatile point in the Asia-Pacific. Even if this thin strip of water, separating Taiwan and China, is not the site of a great power collision this year it nevertheless will be a source of tension between Beijing and Washington. The Communist Party of China claims Taiwan as “an inalienable”...

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