Policy area: International relations

Reports

Iran nuclear monitor

This report from UK think tank the ECFR monitors Iran's nuclear programme. This regularly updated Iran nuclear monitor is developed in consultation with nuclear security experts, drawing on open-source intelligence, IAEA statements and satellite imagery analysis. Indicators track distinct, observable activities or declarations of intent—for example, diplomacy, enrichment or official nuclear policy—that collectively allow readers...

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The DPRK’s chemical facilities: Kanggye area: site profile 5

This report from UK think tank RUSI delivers a critical assessment of North Korea's chemical weapons (CW) infrastructure in Kanggye. This paper delivers a critical assessment of North Korea's chemical weapons (CW) infrastructure in Kanggye, offering new insights through satellite imagery and open-source intelligence. Its impact lies in providing a clearer, evidence-based foundation for understanding...

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Avoiding a new nuclear arms race

This report from UK think tank Chatham House examines how policymakers and experts can revitalise arms control for a new era. Increasing global tensions have led some experts to suggest that formal control of nuclear weapons is no longer feasible. Some strategists in nuclear weapons states are even questioning whether it is desirable. This uncertainty...

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Evaluating Russian support for North Korea’s nuclear weapons

This report from UK think tank RUSI contributes to a greater understanding of the evolving Russia–North Korea nexus of nuclear proliferation. Overview Russia’s deepening defence partnership with North Korea is reshaping the global security landscape, with potentially significant implications for nuclear non-proliferation efforts. This paper analyses how Russian technical and financial support might be advancing...

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Gender and identity analysis for hybrid threats

This report from UK think tank RUSI presents a framework for integrating gender and identity analysis into the assessment of and response to hybrid threats. RUSI's project on Enhancing NATO Counter Hybrid Threats Strategies with Gender Analysis examines how adversarial actors weaponise gender and identity as part of hybrid threat strategies aimed at weakening social...

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Strengthening Belgium’s financial response to organised crime

This report from UK think tank RUSI explores how Belgium could break the criminal business model through a finance-led approach. This paper highlights the importance of Belgium taking a finance-led approach to dismantling criminal networks that operate in the country and across Europe. ​It examines systemic challenges, such as resource constraints, fragmented coordination and legal...

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Developing a framework for secure third-party access to frontier AI

This report from UK think tank RUSI delivers a critical framework for securely enabling third-party evaluation of frontier AI models. This paper delivers a critical framework for securely enabling third-party evaluation of frontier AI models, directly addressing the urgent need for robust safety and security in the defence and security sector as AI capabilities rapidly...

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Russian sabotage of NATO infrastructure: Identifying alliance vulnerabilities

This report from UK think tank RUSI looks at the lessons to be drawn from sabotage attacks attributed to Russia against civilian infrastructure and logistics in European NATO countries. This paper provides a critical analysis of Russia's escalating sabotage operations targeting NATO civilian infrastructure and logistics in Europe since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.​ It...

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War of words: Countering Russia’s global information campaigns

This report from UK think tank the Coalition of Global Prosperity explores how Russia is using disinformation to set the foundation for future aggression in Europe. Disinformation and propaganda have been central to Russian strategy for more than a century. Notwithstanding technological developments and shifting political dynamics, Russia’s contemporary information campaigns exhibit striking similarities to...

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Hostile states and the Far Right: Converging tactics

This report from UK think tank RUSI examines how hostile states exploit far-right gender and identity narratives to polarise societies and weaken democracies. This paper highlights the critical intersection between hostile state actors and transnational far-right movements, revealing how gender and identity-based narratives are weaponised to polarise societies, weaken democratic institutions and disrupt international alliances....

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Strengthening UK-South Korea cyber security cooperation

This report from UK think tank RUSI examines the current state of bilateral cooperation on cyber security and provides recommendations to strengthen the partnership. This research paper highlights the critical importance of the UK–Republic of Korea (UK–ROK) Strategic Cyber Partnership (SCP) in addressing shared cyber security challenges and advancing mutual interests, including in the Indo-Pacific....

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Conventional prompt strike in European military power

This report from UK think tank RUSI explores the critical role of conventional prompt strike capabilities in enhancing European military power. Conventional prompt strike (CPS) capabilities – such as medium-range ballistic missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) – play a critical role in enhancing European military power. Drawing on lessons from recent conflicts, this research...

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Preventing violent extremism: Integration amid a funding crisis

This report from UK think tank RUSI stresses the need to integrate preventing and countering VE across development and security coverage. By contextualising violent extremism (VE) within broader conflict systems, this paper stresses the need to integrate preventing and countering VE across development and security coverage. Despite several conceptual and operational barriers, this approach would...

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The European archipelago: Building bridges in a post-Western Europe 

This report from UK think tank ECFR looks at levels of pessimism in most Europeans about their country and the world's future. One year into the second Trump presidency, a major ECFR poll, including the UK, finds that most Europeans are pessimistic about their countries’ and the world’s future. Many are realistic, as well: majorities and...

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Terrorist financing in the age of large language models

This report from UK think tank RUSI examines how advances in AI and LLMs could be exploited to support terrorist financing activity. This research briefing by Jason Blazakis examines how advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) could be exploited to support terrorist financing activity. The report argues that LLMs could act...

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