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Global Security Briefing
The Royal United Services Institute
100 episodes
Global Security Briefing provides regular insights from leading international experts to help you make sense of the far-reaching changes affecting international security around the globe. Hosted by analysts from RUSI's International Security Studies team, the podcast looks at how the UK can best shape its foreign and security policies in an increasingly dynamic international environment.
More about the show
The Global Security Briefing channel is also host to a back-catalogue of episodes from the concluded RUSI podcasts 'Bridging the Oceans' and 'Mind the Gulf'. Running from 2020 to 2023, 'Bridging the Oceans' aimed to create a platform to discuss the key defence and security questions of the world's most dynamic region: the Indo-Pacific. Hosted by Veerle Nouwens, it explored what the Indo-Pacific is, where its limits lie, and what the fast-evolving defence and security issues are in this dynamic part of the world. Running from January to May 2022, the 'Mind the Gulf' Podcast Series explored how the Iranian nuclear programme – and international diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon – interacts with regional security dynamics and the wider Middle East.
The views or statements expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by RUSI employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of RUSI.
Episodes page 1 of 2
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UN Command Korea: Peninsula Security with Lt Gen Winter
Lt Gen Scott Winter joins Philip Shetler-Jones to discuss the history and role of the UN Command in Korea, and the security challenges it faces today. In this episode of Global Security Briefing, Philip Shetler-Jones…
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Radioactive Russian Drones - A Conversation with Vitaly Shevchenko
Vitaly Shevchenko of BBC Monitoring joins Natia Seskuria to explore the implications of a radiation warning found on a downed Russian drone. In April 2026, Ukrainian air defences shot down a modified Russian Geran-2…
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Updating How We Think About Korean Peninsula Security
Philip Shetler-Jones is joined by Sanghun Seok and Dr Edward Howell to ask whether 'unification' and 'denuclearisation' are still the lenses through which we should view security on the Korean Peninsula. For decades,…
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The Future of War: How Autonomous Systems Are Reshaping Conflict
General David Petraeus discusses autonomous warfare, drone technology and the military transformation driven by Ukraine. Ukraine offers the clearest evidence that warfare is changing in revolutionary ways. Unmanned…
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Great Power Diplomacy: How to Prevent a Third World War
In this episode, Tobias Ellwood sets out why he believes we are drifting towards global conflict, and what can still be done to stop it. The order that has held since 1945 is coming apart. War in Ukraine,…
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Energy on the Frontline of European Security
Energy is no longer the preserve of the business pages and is central to questions of European Security. Disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has left European gas prices far above where they sat at the…
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Japan's Intelligence Reforms
Japan's significant intelligence reforms reveal how the country's approach to security is becoming more self-reliant and autonomous. But what is being proposed, and why now? In this edition of Global Security…
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After Ankara: First Reflections on the 2026 NATO Summit
The 2026 NATO Summit convened at a moment of fragile unity for the alliance. What did it deliver? What did it leave unresolved? In this episode of Global Security Briefing, RUSI's Director-General Rachel Ellehuus is…
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Geopolitics, Statecraft and the Changing Face of Organised Crime
Organised crime no longer operates outside international politics. Criminal networks are increasingly present in spaces once associated with intelligence services, foreign policy and national security. In this edition…
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Inside Russia's Wartime Economy
What does the Russian wartime economy look like beneath the official data – and what are the implications for regime stability? In early June, President Putin took to the stage at the St Petersburg International…
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No Easy Off-Ramp: Iran, the US and the Search for a Deal
Are we seeing the potential for a diplomatic off-ramp in the latest phase of the Iran crisis, or just another pause in a much longer confrontation? The broad picture at the beginning of June 2026 is that the US and…
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President Trump in Beijing: The Future of US-China Relations
Dr Olivia Cheung and Lyle Morris join Philip Shetler-Jones to assess President Trump's Beijing visit and the future of US-China relations. President Trump's visit to Beijing comes at a pivotal moment in US-China…
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How is International Security Changing?
Dr Neil Melvin and Dr Philip Shetler Jones discuss Brexit, European security, the Indo-Pacific and the changing global order. In his final episode as host of Global Security Briefing, Neil Melvin reflects on how…
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What is Driving Turkey's Foreign and Security Policy Agenda?
As the Middle East is facing grave uncertainty against the backdrop of what is being called the 'Third Gulf War', Ankara is managing an uneasy relationship with Iran. Turkey is projecting itself as a more…
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The Regional and Global Significance of the US-Led Attack on Iran
The US and Israel have launched major strikes on Iran, triggering retaliation across the region and raising fears of wider war. As tensions escalate around the Strait of Hormuz and across the region, the implications…
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Is Ukraine Any Closer to Peace After Four Years of War?
Ukraine, its European backers and the United States have drawn closer to agreeing a blueprint for peace, but various questions remain. Can anyone accept Russian sincerity? How to treat Moscow's demands for territory in…
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Is the Trump Administration's 'Donroe' Doctrine Transforming Relations with Latin America?
Following Washington's emphasis on the Western Hemisphere in its 2025 National Security Strategy, this episode examines Cuba, Venezuela and the intensifying US-China competition in Latin America. In this episode, Neil…
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Greenland: A Flashpoint in Transatlantic Relations
The Greenland crisis has damaged goodwill and trust between the US and Europe and has undermined perceptions of US reliability and trustworthiness. Following the 2026 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, should Europe…
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Can the Transatlantic Alliance Survive the Trump Presidency?
As US–European relations face renewed strain under President Trump, this episode explores what the crisis means for NATO, European security and the United Kingdom. In this episode, Neil Melvin is joined by RUSI…
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How Will German Rearmament Shape European Security?
Dr Claudia Major joins Neil Melvin to discuss Germany's rearmament drive and its implications for European and transatlantic security. Germany is undertaking the most significant overhaul of its defence and security…
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The View from Doha 2025
Dr Burcu Ozcelik and Nicholas Hopton join Neil Melvin to discuss key insights from the Doha Forum and the shifting Middle East security landscape. In this episode, recorded at the Doha Forum 2025, Neil Melvin speaks…
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A New US Approach to the Caspian Region?
Dr Eric Rudenshiold joins Neil Melvin to examine regional change, great-power competition and Washington's renewed engagement within the Caspian region. The Caspian region is being reshaped by new political and…
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The UK in a Changing World: A Conversation with Professor John Bew
Professor John Bew joins Neil Melvin to reflect on the UK's evolving global role, strategic reviews, and how Britain can navigate an era of geopolitical upheaval. Over the past decade, the United Kingdom has faced a…
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The Return of America First: US Power and Influence in Latin America
Trump's revived 'America First' policy is reshaping US-Latin America ties, testing regional stability, governance and the balance between Washington, Beijing, and Moscow. Nearly a year into his second term, President…
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Taiwan's Strategic Balancing Act Amid US-China Tensions
Can Taipei maintain stability amid great power competition? Taiwan is facing rising Chinese pressure and increasingly uncertain US backing. As cross-strait tensions intensify, the central question for Taipei is…
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Trump's Stalled Peace Push and the Future of the Ukraine War
As the end of the fourth year of the Russia-Ukraine war approaches, questions mount over President Trump's peace efforts and shifting international dynamics. In this episode of Global Security Briefing, Neil Melvin is…
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Turkey's Balancing Act: Prospects for Stabilisation in Syria and Iraq
Can Turkey act as a stabilising force in Syria and Iraq, or are its policies driven by short-term security concerns? As Ankara seeks to navigate the shifting geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, its approach to…
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The UK's 2025 Carrier Strike Group Deployment and Britain's Indo-Pacific Tilt.
The Royal Navy Fleet flagship in Asia prompts a critical question: How serious is Britain about the Indo-Pacific? Against a backdrop of deepening UK - Japan defence and economic ties, shifting US engagement, and…
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Does the Trump Administration Have an Indo-Pacific Security Strategy?
Tensions in the Indo-Pacific are testing US power and alliances. What does this mean for regional strategy and for the UK? In this episode of Global Security Briefing, host Neil Melvin is joined by Dr. Kori Schake,…
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Have the Recent Conflicts Transformed the Middle East?
Open warfare has crossed the Middle East, and in its wake came an erosion of the norms of statesmanship and the power of international law to avert conflict. What are the implications for deterrence, diplomacy, and the…
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How Should the UK Approach European Security?
How is the UK's Labour government approaching European security, and how does this compare to the Conservatives? In this episode of Global Security Briefing, host Neil Melvin is joined by Professor Richard Whitman to…
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Can Russia-Ukraine Negotiations to End the War Succeed?
Is there a real near-term prospect of an end of Russia's war against Ukraine? RUSI experts explain four and a half months of the Trump Administration's approach to the war. In this episode of Global Security Briefing,…
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Can Illiberal Peace Bring Stability to the Middle East?
Can Peace Without Democracy Work? RUSI experts discuss the rise of illiberal peacebuilding in the Middle East and what it means for UK foreign policy. In this episode of Global Security Briefing, host Neil Melvin is…
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The Rise of a Fragmented and Contested World
GSB turns 100: RUSI experts look back on key security shifts and explore what's next for the UK in a rapidly changing global landscape. In this special 100th episode of Global Security Briefing, host Neil Melvin is…
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Can Europe Rearm – and Might this be in Time?
As Europe races to rearm, can it do so fast enough to deter looming threats? We explore this question with Shashank Joshi and Dr. Daniel Fiott. In this episode of Global Security Briefing, host Neil Melvin is joined…
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Can Taiwan Resist China's Campaign of Grey Zone Coercion?
As China increases its 'grey zone' pressure, can Taiwan defend its sovereignty without sparking open conflict? In this episode of Global Security Briefing, host Neil Melvin speaks with Dr. Philip Shetler-Jones, RUSI…
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The Future of Transatlantic Security
How have the initial weeks of President Trump's second term of office impacted the transatlantic relationship, and will it survive his administration? In this episode of Global Security Briefing, host Neil Melvin…
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Security Trends and the Role of Think Tanks, With Rachel Ellehuus
How is the global security landscape evolving, and what role can think tanks play in shaping the debate? In this episode of Global Security Briefing, host Neil Melvin sits down with Rachel Ellehuus, RUSI's new…
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Japan's Defence Industry Revival
Is Japan's evolving national security profile altering its role in global security? Prof. Chris Hughes & Hirohito Ogi discuss this strategic shift. Japan is undergoing a major transformation in its defence policy,…
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New 'Great Power' Competition in the Middle East
Shifting alliances and global power struggles are redefining the Middle East's future. Neil Melvin, Burcu Ozcelik and Michael Stephens explore who will ultimately hold the power. This episode dives into the evolving…
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New Year Special Part Two: The Indo-Pacific and Latin America
As 2025 gathers pace, we reflect on security challenges from the previous year and look at what to expect in the coming months. What was foreseen and what was unexpected in last year's global security developments?…
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New Year Special Part One: Europe, Eurasia and the Middle East
At the start of 2025, we reflect on security challenges from the previous year and look at what to expect in the coming months. The past year registered many landmark events in global security. But what was foreseen,…
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Is Stability in the Middle East Possible?
Following the fall of the Assad regime, what comes next for Syria and the future of the region? The Middle East is experiencing significant challenges and transitions as 2024 draws to a close. The war between Israel…
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The Imminent End of the Ukraine War?
Following Donald Trump's election victory, we ask if this could be the beginning of the end of the fighting in Ukraine. President-elect Trump has famously claimed he can end the Ukraine war in a day. While there is…
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North Korea's Emergence as an International Security Actor
As Russia turns to Pyongyang for reinforcements against Ukraine, we explore the events that have shaped North Korea as a security actor. Following the stalling of the 'Six Party' talks about North Korea's nuclear…
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A New World Disorder? From the BRICS to the G20
The world order is being challenged by new organisations and initiatives designed to sideline existing Western-led institutions. The latest summit of the group of states known collectively as the BRICS is a case in…
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Waiting for Escalation: Where is the Middle East Crisis Heading?
One year on from Hamas' 7 October attack on Israel, we look at the current state of the conflict in the Middle East and its future trajectory. Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the horrific Hamas attacks on…
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Can Japan Deliver on its Defence Reforms?
Two years on, how has Japan progressed with its planned national security reforms, and how is it adapting to regional security challenges? In December 2022, Japan announced plans to almost double its defence budget…
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How are the Crises in the Middle East Reshaping the Region?
As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, we launch a new mini-series dedicated to understanding the dynamics shaping the region. We are launching a regular new series of episodes of Global Security Briefing…
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How Ukraine's Kursk Incursion Changed the War in Russia
In this edition, we will be returning to Russia's war against Ukraine as both sides increasingly look towards another winter of fighting. Since the autumn/winter of last year, there have been further swings in the war…
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