Global Governance and Security Centre

As NATO allies meet in The Hague, US military action in Iran and Trump’s attempts to secure a ceasefire risk taking the focus away from European NATO members’ key priorities.

China and other BRICS nations have a golden opportunity to take control where the US retreats. But a more fragmented and uncertain world looks more likely.

Many in Tehran will urge a redoubled effort to develop nuclear weapons, after Israel’s attacks once again exposed the weakness of Iran’s conventional deterrence.

Under Muhammad Yunus, Dhaka is turning towards Beijing and other new partners, helping to redraw regional alliances.

The use of cheap drones to strike targets deep within Russia provides a blueprint for rapidly evolving modern warfare that should inform how states seek to defend themselves.

A new command unifying cyber, electromagnetic, and information operations could represent a paradigm shift – if it is implemented effectively.

Proposals to improve armed forces integration, harness new technology and boost societal resilience are the right lessons to draw from Ukraine. But much depends on spending, implementation, and a reliable US partner. 

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recognizes the centrality of space to UK national security. Funding decisions must now reflect that space is a strategic cornerstone of national defence – not an afterthought.

The plan for an advanced missile defence shield over the US offers no guarantee of success and risks undermining global security.

Unresolved questions on pathogen sharing and vaccine access have effectively placed the agreement in limbo. And ratification looks far off.

The US prioritizing bilateral talks with Iran over nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) negotiations could lead to contradictions in implementation and put the treaty at risk.

Presented with a binary choice between US and Chinese technology, middle powers must balance realism and ambition in maintaining sovereignty over their technology.

Tensions over water have contributed to the outbreak of hostilities, but potential mediation by the World Bank could provide an important chance for engagement.

US tariffs add to the sense of an increasingly unpredictable and unreliable partner. Allies in Europe and the Pacific are questioning foundational assumptions about their security arrangements as a result.

X CEO Elon Musk is close to President Trump at a time when India wants to negotiate on US trade. But X’s case challenges wide-ranging government powers.

Concerns over foreign-owned platforms may overshadow deeper-rooted threats in the global information environment. Beyond platform ownership, the US and other democracies need coordinated and consistent policy, aligned with democratic values.

It would likely be unpopular for a government that has cut welfare services and introduced new taxes on UK businesses, but it also risks undermining wider attempts to regulate big tech. 

Now that Washington is potentially an unreliable ally, the UK needs to revisit its nuclear strategy. But going alone is costly, and partnering with France poses its own risks.

Anxieties over US threats to stop protecting the continent are prompting various proposals to reinforce Europe’s deterrence posture – but many of these have serious flaws.

Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have made big changes to their social media platforms. Carl Miller and Alex Krasodomski consider the geopolitical implications of a fragmenting online ‘public square’.

Disagreements between high- and lower-income countries have left the pandemic preparedness treaty in intensive care. The prescription? Developing nations can look to each other for health equity, writes Ebere Okereke.

A more pragmatic relationship with China could offer opportunities for Europe to chart a more independent course. But it is not without risk.

30 parliamentarians from 15 legislatures across the Commonwealth and Crown Dependencies took part in the three-day event which covered pressing security issues relating to AI.

As the AI summit in Paris approaches, the US administration is taking a comparatively brakes-off approach on AI regulation. Can the UK and EU forge a leadership role on AI safety?

Biden’s sanctions may close the door on US mediation between the RSF and SAF. But Trump could build on them to bring about an inflection point in the war.

New Centre, led by Dr Samir Puri, will see four Chatham House programmes collaborate on research to improve and reform global institutions.

Chatham House staff from the International Security Programme attended the British Interactive Media Association Awards on 20 November to receive a prize for their innovative arms control game.

The political ascendancy of Elon Musk and others like him will likely draw Silicon Valley and the Pentagon even closer – a trend that may profoundly impact technology development and further entrench the power of ‘big tech’.

The constant escalation of doomsday language is a distraction from more urgent and practical cybersecurity priorities.

Both presidential candidates will pursue US tech dominance but differ on the means to achieve it.

As overseas aid budgets are cut, how can policymakers make sure their conflict prevention interventions are effective?

This paper examines the policy challenges arising from the commercialization of cyber intrusion capabilities, and puts forward a set of principles to help governments and wider society navigate markets in which these capabilities can be bought and sold as products and services by states, companies and criminals.

The examples of Afghanistan and Ukraine offer insights and lessons for policymakers and private sector actors on how to build and maintain a resilient internet in future conflict and crisis situations.

China’s unique environment for the development and implementation of AI provides critical insights into how this technology may impact workers and businesses around the world.

Cybercrime is a growing threat to global prosperity and national security. Recent attacks against critical services across the world have highlighted the need for countries to take a collaborative and strategic response.

Increasing use of nuclear energy – due partly to innovations in reactor design – will make it more important than ever to protect civil nuclear facilities from cyberthreats, including by applying existing international law.

A principles-based approach to cyber capacity-building offers significant advantages for countries developing the essential capabilities to defend themselves against ever more sophisticated cyberattacks.

Universal health reforms can be adopted in challenging times, spurred by crisis conditions and despite resource constraints. Sustaining coverage requires financial commitment and thoughtful design.

Regulation alone is struggling to keep pace with advances in AI. This collection of nine essays explores possible solutions for ensuring AI develops safely and responsibly.

Technologies developed by the private sector can exacerbate gendered cyber harms, but also have the potential to counter and mitigate them.

By identifying and understanding the connections between gendered cyber harms, states can take steps to better counter and mitigate these harms.

This paper provides a detailed analysis of how and when states can respond to violations of international law through the use of countermeasures, with a particular focus on the cyber context.

This paper discusses six kinds of humanitarian arrangements intended to provide some security to civilians caught in armed conflict – notifications, evacuations, humanitarian corridors, suspensions of hostilities, protected zones and no-fly zones – outlining relevant international law, identifying operational challenges, and making recommendations for good practice.

As diverse forms of cooperation between states, international organizations and non-state groups increasingly shape armed conflicts, the need for legal clarity on who qualifies as a party to conflict has never been greater.

Striking a balance between the substantial benefits of an open internet and the push by governments to exercise power online is the main policy challenge for future platform regulation.

It is increasingly difficult for assistance organizations to provide aid in an impartial and neutral manner, particularly where gender-based marginalization is systemic. Project planning that considers gender and inclusivity can boost the reach of aid and provide more equitable assistance.

International humanitarian efforts are disconnected from the people affected by armed conflict contexts. This paper looks at how the international humanitarian system should respond to rejections of humanitarian principles and improve systems of accountability.

Protracted and increasingly complex armed conflicts are impacting the ability of assistance organizations to work in accordance with humanitarian principles. Coherent and shared approaches to the principles and greater local participation are central to improving civilian outcomes.

Based on a new global review of laboratory accident reporting, this Chatham House research paper presents the case for a sustainable and risk-based approach to biosafety.

Behavioural insights have already been used to enhance the choice architecture in several areas of public policy. This research paper explores their potential for improving decision-making in nuclear weapons policy.

In this research paper, Juliet Skingsley investigates democratic states’ strategies for balancing utility and risk in offensive cyber operations.

Placing the global challenges of inequality, climate change and technology at the heart of the human rights agenda does not mean turning away from other human rights priorities.

Efforts to finance the global HIV response were the product of a unique era of collaborative thinking and partnerships. This research paper seeks to draw lessons for the benefit of future core global health priorities.

By putting in place climate change adaptation measures, NATO has an opportunity to both strengthen operational resilience and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Civic freedoms and space are critical to stable, profitable and sustainable business environments. But investor awareness remains limited.

To reinvigorate multilateral human rights diplomacy and overcome the challenge of US–China polarization, powerful states must engage with innovative ideas and new leadership emerging from the Global South.

Many of the assumptions that underpin current AI policies are entrenched despite the fact that they are unproven and face criticism for not representing the interests of all stakeholders.

The number of people living in fragile and conflict-affected states where relations between national authorities and major donors are estranged is rising. This research paper from Chatham House and NYU’s Center on International Cooperation identifies emerging best practice and strategic shifts in donor approaches to reflect this new reality.

Human rights have been largely overlooked in the governance of AI – particularly in the UK and the US. This is an error that requires urgent correction.

What does the use of artificial intelligence in border control and related systems mean for asylum seekers and refugees, and how can their rights be protected?