RUSI

The Royal United Services Institute is the world’s oldest and the UK’s leading defence and security think tank. An Independent institution, RUSI produces evidence-based research, publications and events on defence, security and international affairs to help build a safer UK and a more secure, equitable and stable world.

As a research-led institution, all RUSI activity is linked to its world-class research base. RUSI analysis is accurate, objective and policy relevant. RUSI maintains a wide range of multidisciplinary research specialisms, split across nine research groups as well as extensive network of eminent associates and consultants. 

RUSI is the podium of choice for world leaders and senior policy-makers and attracts high quality speakers and participants at its events, which vary in size and format from seminars to conferences.

RUSI is also a membership led organisation, with its members – both individual and corporate – enjoying unique access to the defence and security community.


Latest reports

Grayburn: The UK’s future small arms requirements

This report from UK think tank RUSI provides a comprehensive framework for selecting a new service rifle that will underpin the UK’s future fighting capability. This paper is a pivotal analysis of the British military’s requirements for a new standard rifle, shaping the future of UK defence capability and operational effectiveness. It delivers actionable insights...

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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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Mobilisation and training for war: Preparing to break glass

This report from UK think tank RUSI provides a framework to address the UK’s preparedness for protracted conflict and its NATO commitments. This paper examines the critical need for the UK to prepare its armed forces for rapid mobilisation and training in response to escalating security threats in Europe. ​It highlights the challenges of increasing...

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Instability in the Kenya-Somalia-Ethopia borderlands

This report from UK think tank RUSI underscores the need for integrated approaches to peacebuilding, development and security in the borderlands. This paper provides critical insights into the complex dynamics of instability in the Kenya–Somalia–Ethiopia borderlands, drawing on findings from the Deris Wanaag project's research conference held in Nairobi in February 2026. ​The conference brought...

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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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Measuring lethality: Army combat power and force design

This report from UK think tank RUSI addresses the utility of measuring lethality as a focal point in force design. With the UK and US military facing potential numerical disadvantages in future conflicts, this Research Paper explores how lethality – defined as the rate at which a force inflicts damage relative to the casualties it...

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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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Public cyber attribution in the Global South: Indo-Pacific

This report from UK think tank RUSI underscores the importance of understanding the Global South’s perspectives on cyber attribution to help navigate the complexities of a multipolar world. Global South approaches to public cyber attribution are more cautious than Western approaches, due to factors including cultural background, foreign policy goals and perceptions of western double...

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Tracking money and influence in the UK and Europe

This report from UK think tank RUSI explores transnational anti-rights mobilisation as a hybrid threat to UK and European democracy. This paper highlights the growing threat of transnational anti-rights mobilisation to the UK and European democracy, driven by foreign actors, funding and influence. ​It examines how identity-based narratives are strategically weaponised to undermine democratic resilience,...

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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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Privacy-enhancing technologies in the crypto industry

This report from UK think tank RUSI examines the growing role of PETs in the crypto industry and the need to balance compliance with innovation. This Insights Paper examines the need to balance compliance objectives with the growing role of privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) in the crypto industry. ​ Based on discussions from a July 2025...

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Deputising UK counter-cybercrime operations

This report from UK think tank RUSI explores the potential of deputising private firms for cybercrime disruption in the UK. This paper, 'Exploring Cyber Deputisation: Enhancing UK Cyber Statecraft Against Organised Cybercrime', examines the potential of deputising private sector entities to conduct disruptive cyber operations against serious and organised cybercrime targeting the UK. Amid escalating...

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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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Upcoming events

19 May 2026

Location: RUSI, 61 Whitehall London SW1A 2ET

Think tank: RUSI

Protecting without excluding: Impact of fraud on financial inclusion in the UK

This event hosted by UK think tank RUSI discusses how fraud victimisation and institutional responses to fraud and financial inclusion interact in the UK. Fraud is the most common crime reported in the UK. Its consequences, however, are not evenly distributed, and those with the least financial resilience (already vulnerable to economic shocks) bear a...

20 May 2026

Location: RUSI, 61 Whitehall London SW1A 2ET

Think tank: RUSI

The UK’s role in European tech sovereignty

This event hosted by UK think tank RUSI discusses how the UK and other European countries can balance public and private sector interests to achieve tech sovereignty. Europe is enhancing its efforts to boost European tech sovereignty. The EU is a vital player in this effort, fostering tech innovation, supporting infrastructure programmes and advancing tech...