Global Security Briefing - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Global Security Briefing — Government
Global Security Briefing

Global Security Briefing provides regular insights from leading international experts to help you make sense of the far-reaching changes affecting international security around the globe. Hosted by analysts from RUSI’s International Security Studies team, the podcast looks at how the UK can best shape its foreign and security policies in an increasingly dynamic international environment.

The Global Security Briefing channel is also host to a back-catalogue of episodes from the concluded RUSI podcasts ‘Bridging the Oceans’ and ‘Mind the Gulf’.
Running from 2020 to 2023, ‘Bridging the Oceans’ aimed to create a platform to discuss the key defence and security questions of the world’s most dynamic region: the Indo-Pacific. Hosted by Veerle Nouwens, it explored what the Indo-Pacific is, where its limits lie, and what the fast-evolving defence and security issues are in this dynamic part of the world.
Running from January to May 2022, the ‘Mind the Gulf’ Podcast Series explored how the Iranian nuclear programme – and international diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon – interacts with regional security dynamics and the wider Middle East.

The views or statements expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by RUSI employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of RUSI.

Copyright: © RUSI

Latest Episodes:

New Year Special Part Two: The Indo-Pacific and Latin America Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

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.

New Year Special Part One: Europe, Eurasia and the Middle East Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

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.

Is Stability in the Middle East Possible? Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

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?

The Imminent End of the Ukraine War? Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

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.

North Korea's Emergence as an International Security Actor Nov 13, 2024

Show notes

As Russia turns to Pyongyang for reinforcements against Ukraine, we explore the events that have shaped North Korea as a security actor.

Following the stalling of the 'Six Party' talks about North Korea's nuclear weapons programme in 2008, the country attracted little international attention until 2019 and Donald Trump's ultimately fruitless attempts to unlock the relationship through summit diplomacy. During the Biden administration there have been few initiatives towards North Korea; Washington has focused instead on strengthening the relationship with South Korea and other regional allies.

As the war in Ukraine has dragged on, Russia has increasingly turned to North Korea for weapons and, more recently, also troops.

In this episode, host Neil Melvin is joined by Dr Philip Shetler-Jones, Senior Research Fellow at RUSI, and Ha Chae Kyoun (CK), former visiting fellow at RUSI under the Korea Foundation project, to discuss the implications of North Korea's involvement, and how other countries are responding.

This episode is brought to you as part of the Korea Programme, sponsored by the Korea Foundation.

A New World Disorder? From the BRICS to the G20 Oct 30, 2024

Show notes

The world order is being challenged by new organisations and initiatives designed to sideline existing Western-led institutions.

The latest summit of the group of states known collectively as the BRICS is a case in point. Originally involving Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining later, the group has now expanded to bring in new members, including Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the UAE, with a long waiting list of other potential members building up. Often seen as a 'talking shop', the BRICS has been given a new strategic purpose by Russia and China as a mechanism to challenge US-led alliances and global institutions.

But the BRICS is not the only international format to emerge in recent years. And Brazil, together with India, has been uncomfortable with China and Russia's efforts to turn the BRICS into an anti-Western bloc. In this episode, host Neil Melvin is joined by Dr Philip Shetler-Jones, Dr Burcu Ozcelik and Callum Fraser from the International Security team at RUSI to discuss what sort of organisation the BRICS is becoming as efforts are made to consolidate its activities and expand its membership. Can a new international order emerge from the current ferment?

Waiting for Escalation: Where is the Middle East Crisis Heading? Oct 16, 2024

Show notes

One year on from Hamas' 7 October attack on Israel, we look at the current state of the conflict in the Middle East and its future trajectory.

Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the horrific Hamas attacks on 7 October. There are still no indications of how and under what conditions the war will end. To the contrary, all indications are that the region is on the precipice of a wider and deadlier war.

The second in our series on the evolving crises in the Middle East, this episode will aim to explore the situation on the ground and the implications for geopolitical and geoeconomic relations inside the region, as well as the Middle East's relations with external actors.

Host Neil Melvin is joined by RUSI Senior Research Fellow Burcu Ozcelik and RUSI Senior Associate Fellow Michael Stephens to discuss what has changed in the region since Iran's ballistic missile attack against Israel on 1 October 2024. How should we interpret Israel's strategic objectives as it expands its military campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon? What is Israel's likely long game in Lebanon? And do the US or the UK have any real influence over Israel's military decision-making and the course of the spiraling conflict?

Can Japan Deliver on its Defence Reforms? Oct 02, 2024

Show notes

Two years on, how has Japan progressed with its planned national security reforms, and how is it adapting to regional security challenges?

In December 2022, Japan announced plans to almost double its defence budget and acquire a new set of strike capabilities. The context for that decision was a sense of rising danger and a need to be prepared to assume a larger defence burden. The plans progressed under the leadership of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, but he has now been replaced in this post.

Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's new prime minister, inherits a set of circumstances at home and abroad that will challenge this defence pivot. In this episode, host Neil Melvin is joined by RUSI Senior Research Fellow Philip Shetler-Jones to discuss the original motivation behind these reforms, as well as what progress has been made. What sort of domestic debate is there in Japan on foreign and security policy? And will Japan be able to deliver on its ambitious plans?

This episode is sponsored by the Embassy of Japan.

How are the Crises in the Middle East Reshaping the Region? Sep 25, 2024

Show notes

As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, we launch a new mini-series dedicated to understanding the dynamics shaping the region.

We are launching a regular new series of episodes of Global Security Briefing designed to foster a better understanding of the current situation in the region, entitled 'The Middle East in Crisis', which aims to review and provide analysis on the unfolding political, economic and security dynamics reshaping the region.

After months of tensions, including the detonation of electronic communication devices used by Hezbollah across Lebanon and Syria, Israel now appears to be on the verge of an all-out war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Almost a year on from the 7 October attacks, de-escalation efforts appear exhausted and violence is broadening.

In this episode, host Neil Melvin is joined by RUSI Senior Research Fellow Burcu Ozcelik and Senior Associate Fellow Michael Stephens to take stock of the current situation and explain the dynamics driving the current multifront crisis.

How Ukraine's Kursk Incursion Changed the War in Russia Sep 04, 2024

Show notes

In this edition, we will be returning to Russia's war against Ukraine as both sides increasingly look towards another winter of fighting.

Since the autumn/winter of last year, there have been further swings in the war as Russia launched a long offensive and Ukraine suffered a lack of weapons due to political deadlock in the US Congress and a shortage of manpower.

More recently, in a surprise operation, Ukraine has launched a successful incursion into Russia itself – seizing territory in Kursk – and it has continued to inflict damage on Russian naval forces in the Black Sea and developed the ability to attack targets further inside Russia. In August 2024, Russia renewed its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure ahead of the winter.

It is clear that the war is continuing to evolve, what were red lines are being crossed, and the enormous cost in lives and damage continues to mount. But where does the war stand overall now? More than 30 months into the conflict, is there any sense that one side is closer to winning, and how has Ukraine's dramatic incursion into Russia's Kursk region affected the war?

This week, host Neil Melvin is joined by Professor Mark Galeotti, Senior Associate Fellow at RUSI and Director of Mayak Intelligence.

Related Podcasts