RUSI: Latest Commentary

The Gulf’s Zeitenwende Moment

Michael Stephens,[object Object] — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Gulf States will be re-evaluating their future following the US’ betrayal of its security guarantees.

Brief, Bold and Beautiful? Reactions on the US National Cyber Strategy

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The long-awaited US National Cyber Strategy has just been published, and its five pages of content have raised considerable questions about how ambition will translate into practice.

Who Will Pay the Cost of Freedom in Europe?

Balázs Gyimesi,[object Object] — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Strengthening Europe’s defence requires public spending and public backing. How can political leaders explain and gain support for policies to fund defence investment?

Learning the Wrong Lessons? Counterterrorism Amid a Jihadist Revival

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

With violent extremism pushed to the periphery of mainstream security debates, the concern is not just a lack of resourcing, but a revival of obsolete assumptions and policy approaches.

Macron Offers a Promising Vision for Nuclear Deterrence in Europe

Darya Dolzikova and Héloïse Fayet,[object Object],[object Object] — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Macron’s concept of ‘forward deterrence’ offers a distinctly European approach to nuclear deterrence.

Gulf War III is a Warning About the Effects of a ‘Taiwan Straits War I’

Philip Shetler-Jones,[object Object] — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Ripples of economic disruption radiating from the attack on Iran by Israel and the US give notice of the effect a war over Taiwan would spread through the world.

Iran War Delivers a Tough Lesson in Hard Power to the UK

Matthew Savill,[object Object] — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Aside from policy differences with the US, the UK’s Armed Forces’ size and capacity make difficult any large UK involvement in war with Iran.

If NATO Cannot Protect Everyone, It Cannot Defend Anyone

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Vignettes of Article 5 responses reveal wide, plausible consequences of NATO shortcomings in pursuit of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Iraq's Top Shia Cleric Denounces the War Against Iran, But Implies Moderation

,[object Object] — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Sistani has issued a layered statement addressing the war against Iran.

One Operator, Many Platforms: Unlocking the Full Potential of Attritable Mass

Richard Drake,[object Object] — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

One-to-many control of drones makes mass truly usable, circumventing the limiting factor of human attention.

Fog, Proxies and Uncertainty: Cyber in US-Israeli Operations in Iran

Louise Marie Hurel,[object Object] — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

As Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion develop, several dimensions of cyber activity demand attention and careful qualification.

How AI is Quietly Becoming a Supply Chain Problem

Melina Beykou ,[object Object] — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

To ensure that our most advanced systems do not become our Achilles’ heel, securing AI supply chains must be a focus for both users and policy makers.

Israel's ‘Roaring Lion’: Military Target to Political Decision in Iran

,[object Object] — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The military operations against Iran have killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and begun a war that threatens to engulf the region, marking Roaring Lion and Epic Fury as significant violent events.

The Great Liquidation: Russia’s Great Imperial Retreat

Maksym Beznosiuk and William Dixon ,[object Object],[object Object] — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Its ammunition spent on Ukraine, Russia can no longer act on the world stage. The Moscow-Tehran axis is collapsing in real time.

The Limits of Decapitation: Mexico's Security Outlook After El Mencho

Chris Dalby and Jennifer Scotland,[object Object],[object Object] — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

After the takedown of the head of the organised crime group Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), one thing is certain: ordinary Mexicans are set to pay the price as violence escalates.

US and Israeli Strikes on Iran: Military and Nuclear Proliferation Analyses

Darya Dolzikova and Matthew Savill,[object Object],[object Object] — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

For regime change and the elimination of Iran’s nuclear programme through an air-only campaign, the US and Israel will have to contest with many unknowns.

Rapid Reaction to US-Israeli Joint Strikes on Iran

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Today the US and Israel made a first strike at regime change in Iran, initiating a battle that is existential for Tehran's leadership. The shape of the conflict is being determined now, with much at stake across the Gulf.

Sticking Power or Plaster? The UK Armed Forces Bill 2026 and Preparedness

Vincent Connelly and Hamish Mundell,[object Object],[object Object] — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Armed Forces Bill 2026 will improve flexibility for the armed services, but how does it affect the UK's material preparedness for war?

The Emerging US Influence Threat to British Democracy

Neil Barnett and Eliza Lockhart,[object Object],[object Object] — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

As US political norms shift and the influence of tech platforms expands, the UK must urgently reassess its foreign interference defences.

Middle Powers Must Win the AI Deployment Race

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Middle powers like the UK and Canada will not win the race for ever larger AI models, but through collaboration they can win the deployment race.