Originally published 27 January 2023.

Transparency will be key to managing Ukraine's reconstruction, both in ensuring the efficient use of resources and in maintaining the trust of the international community. 

CFCS Director Tom Keatinge joins Oleksii Dorohan, CEO of the Better Regulation Delivery Office – a leading Ukrainian think tank – to discuss why Ukraine must establish a strong anti-money laundering architecture, and to outline the goals of our joint project, Supervising and Monitoring Ukraine’s Reconstruction Funds (SMURF), which empowers Ukrainian civil society and journalists in this effort.

Originally published on 2 December 2022.

Counterterrorist financing (CTF) efforts are a key part of tackling the emerging challenges at the nexus of finance and security. CFCS’s Project CRAAFT team take you behind the scenes of their three-year journey to build stronger, more coordinated CTF capacity across the EU and its neighbourhood.

Kinga Redlowska is joined by Tom Keatinge and Stephen Reimer to discuss what they’ve learnt about the past, present and future of CTF.

Originally published 21 October 2022.

North Korea uses an array of techniques to evade sanctions.

The international focus is often on the country’s exploitation of technology, yet its embassies and missions also provide a valuable support network for sanctions-busting attempts. RUSI Associate Fellow Daniel Salisbury joins host Aaron Arnold to discuss his forthcoming paper on North Korean diplomats, which explores the various ways in which they facilitate sanctions evasion and procurement efforts.

Originally published 7 October 2022.

Putting a stop to illicit finance matters for global security.

The US and UK are well-positioned to lead this fight, but time is of the essence as dirty money continues to unravel democracy worldwide. CFCS’s Tom Keatinge and Maria Nizzero join host Alanna Putze to discuss RUSI’s latest policy brief, which was inspired by the Taskforce on a Transatlantic Response to Illicit Finance. Together they explore realistic ways that the two countries can strengthen global defences against this rising threat.

Originally published 26 August 2022.

How can the UK Financial Conduct Authority be more data-driven and innovative and apply risk-based supervision as it works with its regulated populations?

Noémi També joins CFCS’s Kathryn Westmore to discuss her recent paper on Revolutionising Financial Supervision. Together, they identify the challenges that more technologically advanced institutions – such as FinTechs and challenger banks – face regarding supervision.

Originally published 29 July 2022.

Independent journalism and civil society are vibrant in the Balkans. Yet kleptocracy and corruption stifle the region’s progress and the prospects for individual EU accession.

Leila Bičakčić, executive director of the Centre for Investigative Reporting (CIN) in Sarajevo, joins RUSI Europe’s Kinga Redlowska to discuss the multifaceted challenges of illicit finance in the Balkans, including the region’s complex history, the influence of Russia and China, and the implications for Europe and beyond.

Originally published 1 July 2022.

Kleptocracy is one of the foremost financial crimes of our time. The role of grassroots actors in holding governments and corrupt actors to account is vital, particularly when it comes to catching illicit funds before they disappear into the global financial system.

Host Alanna Putze is joined by CFCS colleagues Tom Keatinge and Maria Sofia Reiser to discuss a project that aims to strengthen the capabilities of investigative journalists and civil society in ‘the first mile’ of financial crime.

Originally published 17 June 2022.

Journalist and author Oliver Bullough delves into his latest book, Butler to the World, which reveals how Britain came to assume its role as the centre of the offshore economy.

Oliver joins CFCS’s Tom Keatinge and Helena Wood to discuss how so many elements of modern Britain have been put at the service of the world's oligarchs and kleptocrats with disastrous global consequences, what this means within the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and whether change is realistic.

The final episode explores a major global challenge that initially lacked a cohesive policy response and now poses an urgent threat. CFCS’s Alanna Putze is joined by the Atlantic Council’s Julia Friedlander and journalist Edward Lucas to explore the active financial measures that malign actors use to corrode trust in democracy. With Russia as the prime example, they ask if the world possess the policy leadership and strategic vision required to safeguard global democracy at this crucial moment. 

The UN first placed North Korea under international sanctions 15 years ago. Yet despite continued provocations and clear evidence of violations, there have been no substantive changes to the sanctions regime for the past five years. Is it time to rethink our sanctions approach to North Korea? CFCS’s Sasha Erskine and Aaron Arnold are joined by former UK Ambassador to South Korea Alastair Morgan to examine the evolution of North Korea sanctions, the current state of play, and what we might expect in the future.

If you've any follow-up questions for Sasha and Aaron, you can find their contact information on their profile pages on the RUSI website: rusi.org/cfcs