RSI Connect: Russian Military as an Instrument of Foreign Policy
Date: September 23rd, 2021 at 15:00 CEST / 09:00 EDT Platform: Cisco Webex Events
Link to Video Recording
Details
RSI was joined by Fredrik Westerlund, Bettina Renz, and Hanna Smith for a discussion on the role of the military in Russian foreign policy.
The event explored how Russia uses its military as a tool of foreign policy, examining its strategic thinking, operations, and influence on global affairs.
Format
Each panelist presented for 5-7 minutes followed by guided discussion and 30 minutes of Q&A.
Agenda
- 1500-1540 CEST / 1000-1040 EDT: Panelist Remarks
- 1540-1600 CEST / 1040-1100 EDT: Guided Discussion
- 1600-1630 CEST / 1100-1130 EDT: Question & Answer Session
Biographies
Fredrik Westerlund
Title: Deputy Research Director Affiliation: Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI)
Fredrik Westerlund specializes in Russian military power, defense industry, and intelligence services. He is currently completing a PhD thesis on the role of the military in Putin’s foreign policy at Åbo Akademi University. He co-edited the report Russian Military Capability in a Ten-Year Perspective (2019) and authored The Role of the Military in Putin’s Foreign Policy (2020).
Bettina Renz
Title: Professor of International Security Affiliation: School of Politics and International Relations, University of Nottingham
Dr. Bettina Renz specializes in Russian security and defense policy in the post-Cold War era. She is the author of Russia's Military Revival (2018) and has published widely on military reforms, strategic thinking, and civil-military relations. She has lectured at King’s College London and was a distinguished visiting professor at the Canadian Forces College.
Hanna Smith
Title: Director of Research and Analysis Affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats; Visiting Professor, College of Europe, Brugge
Dr. Hanna Smith is an expert on hybrid threats, Russia, and Eurasia. She has published extensively on security studies, international relations, and regional cooperation. Her recent works include Strategic Culture in Russian Neighbourhood (2019) and The Landscape of Hybrid Threats: A Conceptual Model (2020). She frequently comments on international affairs in media outlets.