Resource library search

This article launches a series examining the top 10 serious and organised crime threats to the UK and their evolution over the past decade. It traces the journey of the overarching threat posed, with a focus on the blurring of the lines with state threats.

The growth of an overly burdensome safety regime is restricting opportunities for the British Army to train at scale. This poses risks of higher casualties and reduced capability if it is called on to fight a war, and of reducing safety through undermining confidence.

Can Nigeria’s incoming administration grapple with the urgent problems facing the country and foster a process of national reconciliation?

China officially pursues a ‘non-alliance’ policy, but Western aid and support to Taiwan, economic competition – particularly the US restrictions on semiconductors – and the formation of ‘blocs’ perceived as hostile to Beijing in the Asia-Pacific will test this to the limit.

Since its signing in 2014, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement has faced some delays in its implementation. However, with Beijing showing no signs of curtailing its aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea, recent years have seen an uptick in security cooperation between Manila and Washington.

Although the initial furore around Georgia’s recently introduced ‘foreign agents’ law has died down, the upcoming elections will be crucial in determining whether the country continues to drift away from a pro-Western course or moves closer to EU integration.

With Afghanistan largely turning its back on the outside world, the country’s religious scholars might be in a key position to influence the direction taken by the Taliban government. But what sort of an influence will they be?

As the new UK government grapples with the current state of the Armed Forces, hard thinking and prioritisation are needed to ensure they can provide capable and coherent forces to NATO and deal with modern threats.

In a previous article, the authors argued that the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) should be stretched to best meet its growing potential. One proposal was to create a ‘JEF Bank’ to fund capability development, provide sustainable growth in defence spending and incentivise closer cooperation. The JEF provides an ideal framework to develop the concept among a smaller group of countries before potentially scaling up.

Despite the death of its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group’s operations in Mali continue. But how do locals feel about the mercenaries’ presence?

With increasing recognition of the security threats linked to environmental degradation, a new framework is needed for engaging the UK military in environmental protection.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, even Austria is moving away from its pro-Putin position.

While Russian forces have been bogged down in Bakhmut, the southern Russian region of Belgorod has struggled to repel attacks from across the Ukrainian border. What does this show about the Kremlin’s approach to its regions and how federal resources are being allocated?

With the next round of country assessments starting, the new FATF President has a lot of work to do over the next two years.

The UN has recently concluded that the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and Russian-controlled areas is a war crime. The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of President Vladimir Putin, alongside Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova. Although the Russian authorities have been accused of several war crimes ranging from rape to wilful killing, the international media’s focus on the crime of forced transfer of children demonstrates how powerful children are as a symbol of the spoils of war.

Two years ago, on 28 August 2021, the final British evacuation flight took off from Kabul airport. Thus ended 20 years of British endeavour in Afghanistan. Some was ineffectual, but some inspirational. This is the story of a major success, but with a decidedly bitter aftertaste.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s policy of ‘progressive realism’ will meet its match in Afghanistan, particularly when it comes to seeking cooperation from the Taliban on issues such as women’s rights and terrorism.

Supporting Ukraine’s peace initiative is not only the right thing to do for those Africans who value sovereignty and the rule of law, but it is also in their own self-interest.

Now that the dust has settled on the recent NATO summit in Vilnius, it is worth considering some of its longer-term implications.

Although the Wagner Group’s presence in Ukraine may have ended, a range of other non-state actors have stepped up to take its place, many of which display extreme right-wing beliefs.