Global Security Briefing

Originally published on 19 May 2021

The complexity of the South Pacific is key to understanding the region’s place in the broader Indo-Pacific concept.

In this episode, Veerle is joined by Anna Powles, Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University in New Zealand, to discuss how history, identity and geography help shape the complex geostrategic landscape in the South Pacific.

From secure supply chains of critical components like semiconductors to a push to promote liberal standards, the US and Europe are looking for ways to cooperate to ensure that the international digital domain remains free, open and secure. Will the Biden administration’s approach differ from that of Trump? How aligned are the US and Europe on tech cooperation, as well as norms and standards promotion? And where should the transatlantic community focus next?

In this podcast episode hosted by Dr Neil Melvin, Director International Security Studies, Jean-Pierre Maulny, Deputy Director of the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS), and Alice Billon-Galland, Research Fellow at Chatham House, discuss the evolving French debate on European security, how France views its security partnership with the UK after Brexit, and French views on the regional and international security threats facing Europe.

Originally published 28 April 2021

Central to the transatlantic China dialogue is a wide-ranging and sometimes uneasy debate around tech.

In this episode, Veerle is joined by Martijn Rasser, a Senior Fellow in the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), to discuss the ongoing transatlantic debate around technology and the digital domain.

From secure supply chains of critical components like semiconductors to a push to promote liberal standards, the US and Europe are looking for ways to cooperate to ensure that the international digital domain remains free, open and secure. Will the Biden administration’s approach differ from that of Trump? How aligned are the US and Europe on tech cooperation, as well as norms and standards promotion? And where should the transatlantic community focus next?

In this podcast episode, hosted by Dr. Neil Melvin, Director RUSI International Security Studies, Dr. Christian Mölling, Research Director at the German Council on Foreign Relations, and Dr. Barbara Kunz, Senior Researcher, Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy, Hamburg, examine how Germany views the challenges to European security as the continent faces increasing threats, both in its neighbourhood and globally, and reflect on the UK’s future regional security role post-Brexit. 

Dr Neil Melvin introduces Global Security Briefing, outlining the core issues to be addressed in future episodes, including the shifting nature of European security, Russia’s emerging global agenda, the evolving security challenges of the Middle East and how post-Brexit UK can best navigate the fast-evolving international environment. 

Originally published 14 April 2021

This week, Veerle is joined by Dr Saya Kiba, Associate Professor at Komatsu University in Japan, to discuss Japan’s security and political engagement in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on the Philippines.

Japan is a long-standing dialogue partner of ASEAN and has deep ties with its member states. Tokyo has emphasised ASEAN centrality as a key principle within its Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy, and an effective engagement with the grouping is seen as an important component of how Japan seeks to achieve its objectives in the region.

This episode highlights the different forms of interaction undertaken by Japan in Southeast Asia – particularly with the Philippines – and discusses the utility of non-military engagement for fostering greater cooperation. Dr Kiba also outlines the threat perceptions and security needs of the Philippines as well as the role of extra-regional actors in the Indo-Pacific.

Originally published 31 March 2021

The United States and Europe share concerns over some of Beijing’s behaviour in the international system. But how aligned at the two sides of the Atlantic on how to manage China’s rise?

Veerle is joined by Raffaello Pantucci, Senior Research Fellow at RUSI and at the RSIS in Singapore, to explore the current state of Europe-China relations. Tensions are running high following the imposition of sanctions by the EU as well as by the UK, the US and Canada over human rights violations in Xinjiang. And these are made worse by Beijing’s retaliatory measures targeting China-focussed academics, analysts, and research institutions. But the EU and the United States are not perfectly aligned on how to view Chinese behaviour, or on how to mitigate existing concerns.

Originally published 17 March 2021

Veerle is joined by Ambassador Desra Percaya, Indonesia’s current Ambassador in London, to discuss his country’s perspective on geopolitical and security questions in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific.

Indonesia is a regional economic heavyweight and its role in the Indo-Pacific region, the economic engine of the world, is only expected to grow. However, the country’s foreign and security policy have not received adequate attention. Ambassador Desra Percaya highlights Indonesia’s position on some of the region’s ongoing security questions.

This episode seeks to highlight Jakarta’s perspective on the role of China in the region, as well as the situations in Myanmar and Xinjiang, and explores the question of whether Indonesia considers ASEAN as being effective in addressing some of these challenges. Ambassador Desra also lays out how Indonesia views the growing interest of extra-regional powers like the United Kingdom in the Indo-Pacific, and identifies some of the areas in which Indonesia would welcome cooperation and collaboration.

Originally published 3 March 2021

This week, Veerle is joined by Professor David Capie, Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies and Professor of International Relations at Victoria University in Wellington.

Given the strong policy focus on the Indo-Pacific by Australia, it may be surprising that New Zealand’s strategic thinking is still in flux. This week, David explains what the push and pull factors have been for New Zealand in looking afresh at what the Indo-Pacific means to the country and how it can balance interests in the wider region with its immediate policy priorities in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.

While New Zealand’s traditional focus in the Asia-Pacific has been on trade and economic relations, it is increasingly starting to think more critically about potential geopolitical and security challenges. For a country limited in resources and geographically a long way from fellow Indo-Pacific countries, creative partnerships will be the way forward to take advantage of the opportunities in the region and address the challenges that lie ahead.

17 February 2021

This week, Veerle is joined by Jonathan Berkshire Miller, Director and Senior Fellow of the Indo-Pacific Programme at the MacDonald Laurier Institute in Ottawa.

The Canadian government is re-examining the country’s role in the Indo-Pacific. Multilateralism, strong support for the international rules-based order and a greater focus on trade through multilateral frameworks such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership seem certain to figure in this examination. However, what will shape Canada’s broader security role in the region? And how will Ottawa’s currently strained relationship with Beijing evolve?