RUSI Newsbrief

The UK government is exploring new rules on the use of AI in weapons systems, including autonomous weapons systems. In doing so, it has an opportunity to follow the US’s lead, build a shared framework for allies and show moral leadership.

The threat of an internet cut-off looms in Taiwan, as a months-long outage on Matsu earlier this year made plain. To defend itself from a possible Chinese invasion or prolonged blockade, the island must strengthen its satellite-communication capabilities, rather than seek the services of Elon Musk’s Starlink.

As an antidote to broad-brush speculation, the careful observation of appointments across Russia’s political system can serve as a guide to continuity and change in policymaking and provide hints as to the future direction of Russia’s war effort.

The new security agreement between the US, South Korea and Japan reflects the shifting sands of regional geopolitics, especially heightened concerns about North Korea and China. Achieving its full potential, however, will require an openness to dialogue with both countries and cooperation on domestic challenges.

In response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, Poland’s populist government has embarked on what looks like a major rearmament programme. Yet, despite all the announced plans to purchase state-of-the-art weaponry from the US and South Korea, very little thought seems to have gone into how to plan the country’s defence.

After two wars and over 30 years of military hostility, an end to the confrontation between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh appears within reach, but a return to violence remains a real possibility unless the final obstacles can be overcome.

It is no coincidence that both hunger and violent conflict are rising at an alarming rate. Owing to the increasingly interconnected and homogenised nature of food systems, the disruptive effects of war, climate change and other man-made problems are fuelling each other in a dangerous self-perpetuating cycle.

Russia is trying to increase its weight in Africa but some claims overstate its influence.

While Russian leaders have cited NATO enlargement as a justification for invading Ukraine, ordinary Russians have much to gain from Ukrainian membership. Ukraine’s accession would force the Kremlin to shed its addiction to military spending, rejoin the global economy, and dissuade future autocrats from pursuing a revanchist agenda.

The bruising that Moscow’s forces have received in Ukraine will undoubtedly feed into future Russian military thinking. However, the overriding factor will continue to be Moscow’s grand strategy, and how it seeks to use military power in pursuit of geopolitical objectives.