Policy area: Security & defence

Reports

UK FATF mutual evaluation taskforce: Second meeting report

This report from UK think tank RUSI analyses the UK's evolving anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing risks ahead of the 2027 FATF mutual evaluation. This paper provides a timely and authoritative analysis of the UK’s evolving anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) risks ahead of the 2027 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) mutual evaluation...

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The Royal Marines in the High North: Shaping the maritime battle

This report from UK think tank RUSI examines how UK and NATO maritime strategy is reshaping the way the Royal Marines contribute to countering Russian threats. The Royal Marines are reshaping UK maritime strategy in the High North, countering Russian threats and advancing NATO objectives for regional security. This entails a close conceptual integration between...

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Masculinities and violence in the Horn of Africa borderlands

This report from UK think tank RUSI reveals how masculinity norms fuel conflict, violent extremism and gender-based violence in the Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia borderlands. This paper reveals how masculinity norms fuel conflict, violent extremism (VE) and gender-based violence (GBV) in the Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia borderlands, shaping Al-Shabaab's recruitment and deepening insecurity. It offers actionable recommendations for defence and security...

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Behind the curve: Britain’s defence investment plan in Trump’s world

This report from UK think tank the European Council on Foreign Relations examines Britain's defence investment plan. The new defence investment plan is weighed down by the habits of Britain’s defence establishment. By contrast, the British public appear readier to accept change.

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The price of dependency: Unpicking the People’s Republic of China’s influence and coercion across the Commonwealth.

This report from UK think tank the Coalitiion for Global Prosperity explores China's influence and coercion across the Commonwealth. Consecutive UK governments have underinvested in the UK’s relationships with Commonwealth countries, to the benefit of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which has become the largest trading partner and, in many cases, the largest bilateral...

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Private capital in UK defence

This report from UK think tank RUSI examines how UK defence sector challenges and policy reforms impact private capital investment. This paper analyses how the UK government can increase private capital investment in the UK defence sector to help finance the development of innovative technologies and scaling up production capacity. The paper finds that, while...

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Discussion paper: The 1951 refugee convention and a crisis of credibility

This report from UK think tank the Coalition for Global Prosperity asks why the system now commands so little political legitimacy and what it might take to restore it. In the aftermath of the Second World War, Europe was confronted with a crisis of staggering proportions: 55 million people had been forcibly displaced across the...

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Why a ‘whole-of-society’ model is essential for Ukraine’s recovery

This report from UK think tank Chatham House explores restoring the country’s human capital through state–civil society cooperation. Ukraine’s wartime resilience is due in no small part to its ‘whole-of-society’ model of defence – which requires a high level of mobilization among citizens, local community leaders, philanthropic organizations and the private sector. Civil society stands...

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The Columbia-Ecuador organised crime and security nexus

This report from UK think tank RUSI explores how Colombia's evolving criminal landscape has transformed Ecuador into a central hub for global drug trafficking. This paper provides a critical analysis of how Colombia's evolving criminal landscape has transformed Ecuador into a central hub for global drug trafficking, driving unprecedented violence and challenging regional security and...

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FATF greylisting and financial inclusion

This report from UK think tank RUSI offers policy solutions to balance financial integrity with financial inclusion. This paper reveals how FATF greylisting – the designation of countries as ‘jurisdictions under increased monitoring due to strategic deficiencies in their anti‑money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regimes’ – can unintentionally undermine financial inclusion....

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Gender-responsive approaches to countering state threats: a policy brief

This report from UK think tank RUSI explores how intersectional gender analysis strengthens understanding of and defence against state threats. This paper demonstrates how integrating intersectional gender analysis enhances defence and security strategies against state threats by exploring why it has been absent and the basis for including it. Key Recommendations: Build the evidence base...

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Addressing the crisis of medical care in armed conflict

This report from UK think tank Chatham House addresses the issue of clarifying the law on respecting and protecting provision of healthcare. The entitlement of the wounded and sick to receive medical care is a foundational principle of international humanitarian law (IHL). Medical facilities and personnel are granted legal protection that allows them to serve...

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China and rare earth supply chains

This report from UK think tank RUSI reveals how China's rare earth supply chain dominance and export controls are reshaping global defence and security industries. This paper reveals how China's rare earth supply chain dominance and export controls are reshaping global defence and security industries, directly affecting the UK and its Allies. China's strategic use...

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Watching the watchers

This report from UK think tank the Constitution Unit proposes legislative and other changes to make the Intelligence and Security committee more effective. The Intelligence and Security Committee – the joint parliamentary committee that oversees the intelligence community – has too often been constrained and obstructed in its activities and investigations. This new report, by...

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Rearming Europe for deterrence

This report from UK think tank the Centre for European Reform examines short-term priorities and policy options for rearming Europe for deterrence. As the US withdraws from its commitments to European security, and Russia intensifies its hostile activity across the continent, Europe needs to rapidly improve its deterrence by rearming. A new policy brief from...

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Related Events

25 August 2026

Location: Online

Think tank: The Henry Jackson Society

The rare earth clock: Critical minerals, China’s leverage and the West

This event hosted by UK think tank the Henry Jackson Society examines what is actually at stake as the November deadline approaches. Critical minerals have moved from a niche supply-chain concern to one of the defining fault lines of great-power competition. China controls roughly 70% of global rare earth mining and up to 90% of...

1 September 2026

Location: Adam Smith Institute, 23 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3DJ

Think tank: Adam Smith Institute

The Next Generation with Lord Kempsell

At this event hosted by UK think tank the Adam Smith Institute Lord Kempsell discusses the Chagos Islands. We are delighted to welcome Lord Kempsell, highly accomplished political strategist and opposition researcher. Ross is one of Britain’s most distinguished political campaign directors and communication experts, having served as a senior advisor to Boris Johnson in...

8 September 2026

Location: Online / Chatham House, 10 St James's Square, London SW1Y 4LE

Think tank: Chatham House

What would a ceasefire in Ukraine mean for Europe and the world?

This event hosted by UK think tank Chatham House discusses the implications of a ceasefire for Ukraine, Europe, Russia - and global security. After more than four years, the war in Ukraine has entered a period of military stalemate on the ground and a vicious battle in the sky, with strikes hitting both Moscow and...

8 September 2026

Location: Henry Jackson Society, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London SW1P 4QP

Think tank: The Henry Jackson Society

‘The Return of the Great Powers’

This event hosted by UK think tank the Henry Jackson Society discusses the forces shaping our geopolitical future. From the dawn of the modern era to the end of the Cold War, global history was defined by rivalries between great powers. In the West, this meant the struggle for supremacy in Europe and the Americas,...