Global Security Briefing

Rachel Ellehuus, Director-General of RUSI and transatlantic security expert, breaks down the fallout from the Greenland crisis. She discusses strained US–Europe trust, continuing negotiations, and Greenland’s strategic importance for missile warning and basing. Rachel also covers historical grievances, NATO’s limited role, and how the crisis may push Europe to de-risk ties with the US.

In this engaging discussion, Sir David Lidington, a former UK Member of Parliament and RUSI Distinguished Fellow, dives into the complexities of transatlantic relations under President Trump. He explores the implications of US interests in Greenland and the nuances of sovereignty. Lidington assesses Europe's capacity to respond to rising Russian threats and critiqued the slow pace of UK defense reforms. He also advocates for a new European security architecture that balances cooperation and independence, urging urgent action from European leaders.

Dr. Claudia Major, Senior Vice President for Transatlantic Security at the German Marshall Fund, shares insights on Germany's dramatic shift in defense policy following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She discusses the ambitious €100 billion rearmament plan, enhancing military capabilities and addressing urgent troop needs. Major highlights the challenges of public support and internal political dynamics affecting defense investments. Additionally, she examines Germany's evolving role in European security and its deepening defense cooperation with the UK.

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 with Dr Burcu Ozcelik, Senior Research Fellow at RUSI and Nicholas Hopton, RUSI Distinguished Fellow and former British Ambassador, to discuss the state of Middle Eastern security after two years of conflict. They explore how regional and global powers are responding to the effects of these conflicts, and what a new security order might look like. Topics discussed include: The current Middle East landscape following major conflicts across Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and the Gulf. Prospects for a new regional security order and pathways toward peace. How regional actors are positioning themselves diplomatically and strategically. Reactions to the new US National Security Strategy and perceptions of US engagement. Key takeaways from the Doha Forum debates on regional stability, governance and future diplomacy.

Dr. Eric Rudenshiold, a key voice on Caspian geopolitics and former NSC Director for Central Asia, shares insights on the evolving dynamics in the region. He discusses how Russia's Ukraine invasion has fostered greater cooperation among Central Asian states. With a focus on the Middle Corridor and the shifting influences of Russia and China, he assesses the role of new leadership in driving regional integration. Rudenshiold also explores the implications of renewed US engagement for future stability and economic opportunities.

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 rapidly transforming global environment marked by the rise of revisionist powers, economic disruption and the erosion of the post-Cold War international order. In response, successive governments have launched a series of major strategic reviews to redefine Britain's global role and national security priorities. In this episode of Global Security Briefing, Neil Melvin speaks with Professor John Bew, former Foreign Policy Adviser to the UK Prime Minister. Professor Bew was the penholder on the last three UK national security strategies and was closely involved in the shaping of the most recent NATO Strategic Concept. Now back at King's College London, he reflects on how the UK has adapted to geopolitical change and what lies ahead for its foreign, defence and security policy. The discussion explores: How the global order is shifting and what this means for the UK's strategic posture. Lessons from three major UK national security reviews and their evolution. The UK's response to Russia's aggression and its separate, complex, relationship with China. The future of European security and Britain's role after Brexit. The Indo-Pacific tilt and what it reveals about the UK's global ambitions. The evolving UK-US relationship and prospects for sustaining the 'Special Relationship'. How Britain can define influence and leadership in a more competitive, multipolar world.

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 Trump has revived the 'America First' doctrine with a renewed focus on the Western Hemisphere. As Washington prioritises border security, transactional diplomacy and strategic competition with China and Russia, Latin American governments are reassessing how to navigate a more conditional and bilateral US approach. In this episode of Global Security Briefing, Neil Melvin is joined by Dr Carlos Solar, Senior Research Fellow for Latin American Security at RUSI. The discussion explores: · How the Trump Administration is reshaping US engagement with Latin America. · The effects of aid cuts, tariff threats and bilateral deals on regional governance. · Shifts in defence and security cooperation under the new US strategy. · How Latin American governments are responding to a tougher, more transactional Washington. · The challenge of balancing US pressure with growing Chinese and Russian influence.

Dr. Philip Shetler-Jones, a Senior Research Fellow for Indo-Pacific Security at RUSI, explores Taiwan's precarious position amid escalating US-China tensions. He delves into China's shift towards grey-zone tactics and the implications of US policy under Trump. The discussion emphasizes the significance of Taiwan's societal resilience and defense reforms, alongside complexities in domestic politics that affect implementation. Additionally, they address the emerging Taiwan-Japan coast guard collaboration and how Taiwan's situation parallels Ukraine's geopolitical struggles.

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 joined by Andriy Zagorodnyuk, a former Ukrainian Minister of Defence and now Chairman of the Centre for Defence Strategies in Kyiv, to assess where the war now stands. The discussion explores: - Russia's intensified military campaign and Ukraine's counterstrikes - The collapse of Trump's diplomatic effort after the Alaska summit with Putin - Europe's response after being sidelined by Washington - Moscow's long-term strategy and potential challenges to NATO cohesion - Ukraine's security guarantees and the prospects for peace as a fifth year of fighting looms

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 Syria and Iraq has become a key test of its regional influence. In this episode of Global Security Briefing, Neil Melvin is joined by Burcu Ozcelik, Senior Research Fellow, RUSI, Dr Serhat Erkmen, RUSI associate fellow and founder of the geopolitical risk consultancy, Pros and Cons, and Dr Oytun Orhan, Coordinator of Levant Studies at the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies (ORSAM), to examine Turkey's policies. The discussion explores the impact of domestic pressures, regional rivalries, security threats, and great power relations, asking whether Ankara can translate tactical gains into a sustainable regional role.