Security Trends and the Role of Think Tanks, With Rachel Ellehuus

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 by Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor at The Economist, and Dr. Daniel Fiott, Head of the Defence and Statecraft Programme at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy of the Vrije Universiteit in Brussels, to explore whether Europe's defence renaissance can deliver on its promises. As Russia's war in Ukraine grinds on and questions grow around America's long-term role in European security, EU states are ramping up defence spending and launching new initiatives, including Readiness 2030 and efforts to create a single market for defence. Can these efforts overcome long-standing industrial fragmentation, political hurdles, and capability gaps in time? And what role will the UK and Ukraine play in this transformation? Can Europe rearm fast enough to secure its future? And what if it can't?

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 Senior Research Fellow for Indo-Pacific Security, Sze-Fung Lee an independent researcher specialising in Chinese hybrid warfare, and Dr. Jyun-yi Lee, Associate Research Fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research to examine how Taiwan is confronting the growing coercive pressure from China, a pressure which falls just below the threshold of war. Drawing on a new RUSI report, they explore what grey zone tactics are, how Taiwan is responding, and what lessons can be shared between Europe and the Indo-Pacific. With rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait, this episode asks: Can grey zone threats be deterred – and how close are we to open conflict? This episode is brought to you as part of our Indo-Pacific Security Programme, under which our research on the grey zone and lawfare receives sponsorship from the Taipei Relations Office in London.

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 speaks with Dr Liana Fix from the Council on Foreign Relations to explore the evolving transatlantic alliance. With growing security challenges, shifting US priorities, and Europe's push for strategic autonomy, they discuss key questions including: How is US policy toward European security changing? Can Europe defend itself without Washington? Is NATO's future at risk? The speakers also examine the impact of nationalism, the war in Ukraine, and great power competition.

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 Director-General, to explore the major security and defence challenges facing Europe, the transatlantic alliance and the wider international order, drawing on her extensive experience in NATO, the US Department of Defense, and the UK Ministry of Defence. They also discuss RUSI's role as the world's oldest security and defence think tank, its strategic direction ahead of its bicentenary, and how it can contribute to navigating an increasingly complex global environment. What are the biggest challenges for think tanks today, and how can institutions like RUSI help shape the future of security policy?

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, expanding its industrial base and forging new international partnerships. What are the strategic drivers behind this shift, and how will these impact regional and global security? In this episode of Global Security Briefing, host Neil Melvin is joined by RUSI Senior Associate Fellow Prof. Chris Hughes and Hirohito Ogi, Senior Associate Fellow at the Asia Pacific Initiative, to analyse Japan’s evolving defence posture. They discuss  policy changes to enable arms exports, the significance of initiatives like the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), and Japan’s role in strengthening defence cooperation with the UK and other allies. What challenges remain, and how far can Japan go in reshaping its position as a global security actor?

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 power dynamics of the Middle East in the wake of war and regional instability. As global and regional players – from the US and China to Iran, Israel and Russia – compete for influence, host Neil Melvin and his guests, Burcu Ozcelik and Michael Stephens, ask whether Western power is in decline, how regional powers can shape their own future, and what’s next for Gaza. 

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? And how have security events altered the trajectory of various regions? In the second episode of this two-part special, host Neil Melvin is joined by colleagues in RUSI’s International Security team, Philip Shetler-Jones and Carlos Solar, to examine the year that has passed and to look at what’s coming next in the Indo-Pacific and Latin America.

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, and what was unexpected? And how have security events altered the trajectory of various regions? In the first episode of this two-part special, host Neil Melvin is joined by colleagues from RUSI’s International Security team Ed Arnold, Burcu Ozcelik and Callum Fraser to examine the year that has passed and to look at what’s coming next in Europe, Eurasia and the Middle East.

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 and Hamas continues to dominate regional dynamics, with Gaza suffering a severe humanitarian crisis. Efforts towards a ceasefire are ongoing, but questions about Gaza's reconstruction and long-term governance remain unresolved. Additionally, in a sudden and dramatic turn of events, all eyes are now on Syria, where a lightning rebel offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (or HTS) brought about the rapid fall of the brutal Assad dictatorship that has ruled Syria for over five decades. The fall of the Assad regime marks a significant turning point for the region and raises many critical questions and challenges for the country's future. Host Neil Melvin is joined by Burcu Ozcelik, RUSI Senior Research Fellow, and Michael Stephens, RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, to ask: what would a future Syrian state look like? Are we any closer to a ceasefire deal in Gaza that could also see Israeli hostages being released? And how can we expect Iran to respond to the fall of its closest ally in the Middle East?

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 skepticism about this claim, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has recently indicated that Russia’s war in Ukraine will end ‘faster’ when Trump re-enters the White House. But what would a deal to stop the fighting look like, and what will the implications of a ceasefire be for Ukraine, the Euro-Atlantic community and Russia? Host Neil Melvin sits down with Professor Mark Galeotti, Senior Associate Fellow at RUSI and Director of Mayak Intelligence, and Andriy Zagorodnyuk, the Chairman of the Ukrainian Centre for Defence Strategies think-tank, to answer such questions and more.