Global Security Briefing: Daily Summaries Delivered

No Easy Off-Ramp: Iran, the US and the Search for a Deal

Are we seeing the potential for a diplomatic off-ramp in the latest phase of the Iran crisis, or just another pause in a much longer confrontation? The broad picture at the beginning of June 2026 is that the US and Iran appear to be trying to move from immediate crisis management to a more structured negotiation, but the process remains extremely fragile. A reported 60-day ceasefire extension would, in theory, create space for talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing some economic pressure on Iran, and eventually addressing nuclear concerns. But the hardest issues remain unresolved: Iran's enriched uranium, the future of its nuclear programme, sanctions relief, security guarantees, and the sequencing of who moves first. In this episode, Professor Ali Ansari, RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, International Security at RUSI, joins host Dr Burcu Ozcelik, to explore the following topics: - What Tehran wants from the current round of talks. - Understanding Iran's insistence that Lebanon be included in the ceasefire. - How much room does the Iranian leadership have to compromise, after war and economic pressure, in the renewed negotiations with Washington? - After spending decades studying the way the US fights wars, has Iran read the US more accurately than Washington and Israel have read Iran?

President Trump in Beijing: The Future of US-China Relations

Dr Olivia Cheung and Lyle Morris join Philip Shetler-Jones to assess President Trump's Beijing visit and the future of US-China relations. President Trump's visit to Beijing comes at a pivotal moment in US-China relations, with strategic rivalry, economic tensions, and regional security concerns continuing to shape the world's most consequential bilateral relationship. In this episode of Global Security Briefing, Philip Shetler-Jones is joined by Dr Olivia Cheung, Lecturer in Politics, King's College London and Lyle Morris, Senior Fellow on Foreign Policy and National Security at Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis, to examine the significance of the visit, what each side hoped to achieve, and what the meetings reveal about the future trajectory of relations between Washington and Beijing. This episode explores: - The historical and geopolitical context behind President Trump's visit to China. - China's priorities and how Xi Jinping may be approaching relations with the United States. - What each side achieved politically, economically and strategically during the visit. - The implications for Taiwan and US allies in the Indo-Pacific region. - What the meetings reveal about the future direction of US-China relations. - Wider implications for global security, international order, and partners such as the United Kingdom.

How is International Security Changing?

Dr Neil Melvin and Dr Philip Shetler Jones discuss Brexit, European security, the Indo-Pacific and the changing global order. In his final episode as host of Global Security Briefing, Neil Melvin reflects on how international security has evolved in the period since the podcast launched in 2021 and what these changes mean for the United Kingdom and its allies. Joined by Dr Philip Shetler Jones, Senior Research Fellow for Indo-Pacific Security at RUSI, the discussion examines the major geopolitical shifts reshaping Europe, the Indo-Pacific and the wider international system. Topics discussed include: Brexit and the UK's changing security role in Europe. Russia's war against Ukraine and its impact on Europe. The future of US and European security relations. The UK's Indo-Pacific strategy and 'Global Britain'. US-China competition and global security. Multipolarity, BRICS and the Global South. Arctic and High North security. The key security challenges facing the UK over the next five years. The episode also marks Neil Melvin's final appearance as host of Global Security Briefing after nearly 120 episodes exploring regional and international security developments. Stay tuned for future Global Security Briefings coming soon.

What is Driving Turkey's Foreign and Security Policy Agenda?

The Regional and Global Significance of the US-Led Attack on Iran

Is Ukraine Any Closer to Peace After Four Years of War?

Is the Trump Administration's 'Donroe' Doctrine Transforming Relations with Latin America?

Greenland: A Flashpoint in Transatlantic Relations