War Studies

How Syria's New Government Risks Undermining Itself Syria’s caretaker government is struggling to contain violence in Sweida and Latakia, exposing cracks in authority, legitimacy, and national unity.

Can Syria’s new government survive without legitimacy or control?

In this article Dr Rob Geist Pinfold, examines how recent violence in Sweida reveals the risks of state failure if Damascus can’t build capacity and trust.

👉 Explore the article here: mecouncil.org/blog_posts/h...

Why did Trump move his best nuclear deterrent? Not for strategic gain The US president says he has deployed submarines closer to Russia — but this would only make the boats more vulnerable to attack

Does moving nuclear submarines closer to Russia make America safer — or more vulnerable?

Prof Michael Clarke, Visiting Professor in the School of Security Studies, examines Trump’s claim and why it makes no strategic sense.

👉 Explore the article here: www.thetimes.com/us/american-...

❓ Could Trump "un-unite" Russia and China?

Dr Geraint Hughes & Dr Zeno Leoni of the Defence Studies Dept compare Kissinger's overtures to China in 1972 with Trump's potential rapprochement with Russia today.

Do conditions compare? 🔗👇

bit.ly/3U7aW0f

#SinoRussia #TrumpDiplomacy #ReverseKissinger

🌊 🪐 In this opinion piece for the Center for Maritime Strategy, Dr James Smith points to historical maritime strategy frameworks that could guide effective space strategy today

READ 🔗 bit.ly/4faSLAu

#SpaceStrategy #MaritimeStrategy #SeaToSpace

Dr Julia Balm, of the Freeman Air & Space Institute, shares insights into the increasing strategic relevance of space war

💭 In this commentary for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Dr Joe Devanny considers how effectively international efforts are improving global cyber diplomacy 👇

🔗 bit.ly/3ISa9xS

#CyberDiplomacy #DigitalDiplomacy

@carnegieendowment.org @joedevanny.bsky.social

"The F-35 is the best fighter around today... But AI will be able to do what human pilots can well before the next RAF fighter comes into service."

- Prof Ken Payne shares in The Telegraph:
🔗 bit.ly/46w4x6m

@indescribable.bsky.social

#AIDefence #MilitaryInnovation #RAF

💭🖊️

The World Politics Review shares Philip Berry's opinion piece: ‘Ecuador’s Cocaine Trafficking Crisis Is a Problem for the U.K., Too,’ exploring what challenge this major hub in the global cocaine trade poses to the UK 👇

🔗 bit.ly/4maPbZt

‪@wpr.bsky.social‬ ‪@drphilipaberry.bsky.social‬

❓ Is the current African peacekeeping strategy sufficient to contain Al-Shabaab?

Professor Ashley Jackson quoted on the peacekeeping mission's instability in Kenya and Somalia 👇

🔗 bit.ly/3GYxiy6

#AlShabaab #DefenceAnalysis #Somalia #Kenya

"Rising desperation among the population could force [Hamas] to accept an interim deal to alleviate suffering."

- Dr Andreas Krieg on what Gaza's humanitarian crisis could mean for a truce 👇

🔗 newscentral.africa/gaza-truce-t...

@andreaskrieg.bsky.social

#GazaCrisis #CeasefireTalks

"It's not enough but it's certainly an important starting point."

- Dr Domitilla Sagramoso spoke to Deutsche Welle about what difference two German Patriot systems could make to Ukraine's defence.

🔗📽️ bit.ly/44MubCz

@dsagramoso.bsky.social

#UkraineWar #PatriotMissiles #Defence

Fighting continues in Syrian city of Suwayda despite ceasefire announcement Fighting continues between Syrian security forces and armed groups in the southern city of Suwayda. It comes hours after a ceasefire was announced after negotiations with local community leaders. Meanwhile, Israel carried out air strikes targeting Syrian forces - entering Suwadya - in what it says was a measure to prevent the troops from attacking the Druze community in the city. The latest fighting between Bedouin groups and Druze fighters has killed at least 70 people since the weekend. Syria says Israeli air strikes violate international law. Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid has the latest from Damascus, Syria. Rob Geist Pinfold is a Lecturer in International Security at King’s College London, he is also a research fellow at Peace Research Center Prague. He blames Israel for instigating tensions between two groups into full-scale violence in Suwayda. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://x.com/ajenglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #Syria #SyriaConflict #Suwayda #Bedouin #Druze #SyriaClashes #SyriaSecurityForces #SyriaSectarianViolence #SyriaWar #SyriaCivilWar #BasharAlAssad #SyriaAfterAssad #AlJazeeraEnglish

❓ What do Israel's actions in Syria signal about its intentions?

"This was not purely performative." - Dr Rob Geist Pinfold, King's Defence Studies lecturer, shares insights on Al Jazeera

🔗 📽️ bit.ly/44MfFuB

#IsraelSyria #ConflictAnalysis #InternationalSecurity

🎉 Graduating at the Royal Festival Hall? Your Alumni Team is looking forward to welcoming all new King’s graduates into our global alumni community of 220,000+ people.

Read more on the free benefits we offer to all our alumni: www.kcl.ac.uk/alumni/forever-kings-edge

#ForeverKings 🦁

Digital Futures of Security Leading experts explore how emerging technologies are reshaping the global security landscape.

🛡️Join King's Digital Futures Institute for a panel event: Digital Futures of Security.

Leading experts Tony Reeves (Deloitte), @cearadau.bsky.social, @lucavigano68.bsky.social discuss emerging technology in security.

📆| 23 July 2025
⏰| 19.00 BST
📍| ONLINE

👇
bit.ly/4eTIQix

#digitalfutures
#KCL

Old but still gold? What Philippines can gain from Japan’s used warships Factors such as maintenance costs and system upgrades will determine the true value of the Abukuma-class vessels’ transfer, analysts say.

Japan’s proposed transfer of 6 destroyers to the Philippines marks a potential step forward in regional defence cooperation.

“This is an important test bed for how Japan transfers capability to a regional partner,” says Dr Alessio Patalano.

Read more:
bit.ly/40aQ8sm

The Strategic Defence Review: Innovation Without the People? In this Defence in Depth article, Tara Zammit questions whether the Strategic Defence Review delivers meaningful innovation—or overlooks the people and culture needed to sustain it.

Can defence innovation succeed without putting people first?

In this #DefenceinDepth article ‪@tarazammit.bsky.social‬ questions whether the UK’s newly released #StrategicDefenceReview side-lines personnel and culture in favour of tech-driven priorities.

Read it here: www.kcl.ac.uk/the-strategi...

🎙️New Podcast!

@andreisoldatov.bsky.social & Irina Borogan join @drichterova.bsky.social to discuss their book Our Dear Friends in Moscow. They explore how fear, betrayal & moral choices shaped a generation of Russians.

🎧Listen now:
☁️ bit.ly/3GibvBf
🟢 bit.ly/4lNgNnf
🍎 bit.ly/4kt6Av2

YouTube video by War Studies KCL What is Peace Photography - Event with Dr Tiffany Fairey #imagingPEACE

🎥 Missed the event What is Peace Photography?

Watch the full recording now: youtu.be/V2V7m6RMKy0?...

📸 Hear from international photographers using the camera as a tool for memory, dialogue, and peacebuilding in post-conflict communities.

#PeacePhotography #ImagingPeace

@foreignaffairs.com

Trump Is Breaking American Intelligence Politicizing the system makes dangerous failures more likely.

Under President Trump, the US intelligence community is facing significant changes, with an increasing focus on political loyalty over expertise. Prof David Gioe and Michael Hayden suggest this could increase intelligence failures.

Read more:
bit.ly/3GtitTS

Our Dear Friends in Moscow Two of Russia's best investigative journalists tell the story of how the hopes of their generation of optimistic Russians in the 1990s faded to be replaced b...

📖 New Book Release!

📘 'Our Dear Friends in Moscow' by Irina Borogan and @andreisoldatov.bsky.social tells the powerful story of a hopeful generation in 1990s Russia—and how their dreams of democracy gave way to autocracy, fear and betrayal.

Read their book here:
bit.ly/4lyMaSe

🎉 Congratulations to Dr Vinicius de Carvalho, Reader in the School of Security Studies, awarded the title Commander of the Order of the Defence in Brazil — recognising exceptional service to Brazil’s national defence.

#SecurityStudies #DefenceHonours #InternationalRecognition

Future of Security Conference: Article 2, Collective Economic Defence and Institutional Responses Join senior leaders from finance, industry and government to explore how economic security can strengthen national defence in a time of rising geopolitical risk.

🛡️How can we defend against economic warfare?

Join senior leaders from government, finance, and defence at the Future of Security Conference, exploring the role of economic security in national defence.

📅24 July | 🕘09:00 | 📍Strand Campus
🎟️More info: www.kcl.ac.uk/events/futur...

How imaging peace can work to bridge entrenched division and build… A new exhibition considers the question of what photography of peace might consist of.

Can photos of peace bridge division and build connection in times of conflict?

Dr Tiffany Fairey (@warstudieskcl.bsky.social) explains how images, as unstable objects with no fixed meanings, help people to navigate difference and complex viewpoints⬇️

#OurDividedPlanet

www.kcl.ac.uk/how-imaging-...

Between Quad and Squad: Understanding India’s Indo-Pacific take in a Trump Era Explore India’s shifting Indo-Pacific strategy in a potential second Trump era with Dr Jagannath Panda in this timely roundtable discussion.

🚢 How is India navigating the Indo-Pacific amid shifting US politics?

Join Dr Jagannath Panda for a roundtable on India’s evolving strategy between the Quad and a new ‘Squad’ in a Trump era.

📅 2 July | 🕚11:00 |📍Strand Campus & Online
🎟️Register here: bit.ly/4kkazKh

Deterrence Futures Fellowship: Call for Applications We are pleased to announce that the newly established UK Nuclear Deterrence Network is now accepting applications for its inaugural Deterrence Futures Fellowship cohort.

The UK Nuclear Deterrence Network is now accepting applications for the inaugural Deterrence Futures Fellowship.

An 18-month programme for early- to mid-career professionals to explore the future of deterrence in UK & global security.

🕓 Application deadline: 2 July 2025

🔗Apply now:
bit.ly/3TG5QYx

🎙️New Episode!

Dr Tiffany Fairey & Dr Pamina Firchow join Prof Rachel Kerr to explore how photography & community-led research are reshaping peacebuilding from the ground up.

🎧 Listen now & discover #ImagingPeace
☁️ bit.ly/4l1fql0
🟢 bit.ly/4nxrJaq
🍎 bit.ly/44j9QU0

Challenges loom for nuclear-powered data centres - Raconteur Westminster has relaxed planning laws for a new type of nuclear reactor. But challenges loom for the developers of these projects

☢️ Could autonomous nuclear reactors pose new security threats?

On this risk, Dr Ross Peel states:
“Some developers want autonomous reactors... with no on-site staffing... driven entirely by remote control from a centralised operations room.”

Read the article here: bit.ly/4nibvBQ

How Israel’s Dangerous New Grand Strategy Has Set Mideast on Fire To secure his political survival, Netanyahu has ditched the status quo to become a radical revisionist of the worst kind.

How is Israel’s grand strategy shifting—and what does it mean for the Middle East?

In this new article, Dr Rob Geist Pinfold examines Israel’s move from status quo to a more aggressive posture—and the regional consequences that follow.

📖 Read the article: mecouncil.org/publication/...

The Strategic Intelligence for Senior Executives course equips you with the skills to navigate complex geopolitical challenges, manage risks & make strategic decisions that drive business success.

🗓️ 10 Sept 2025

🔗Discounts available until 31 July
www.kcl.ac.uk/short-course...