Some militaries have strategies to reduce their carbon emissions – but the latest data shows these are being dwarfed by the effects of spiralling arms spending. Stuart Parkinson investigates. The recent NATO Summit in Türkiye ended with its usual declaration of “ironclad” military unity. The price exacted by President Trump for this unity was that … Continue reading Military Climate Action Swamped by Spending Rises
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Britain should be wary of mistaking higher defence spending for a real strategy
The July 2026 NATO Summit was another display of performative loyalty to Donald Trump, quantified in percentage points of GDP and multibillion dollar equipment contracts. Ian Davis argues that the UK’s new leadership must think beyond Trump’s transactionalism and foster an honest debate about how we spend to really make Britain and the world safer. … Continue reading Britain should be wary of mistaking higher defence spending for a real strategy
Public Opinion on the War in Ukraine: Why right-wing populists are less supportive of Ukraine
What is the linkage between right-wing populist parties in Europe and support for Ukraine or Russia? Is there anything distinct about the views of Reform UK voters on defence and foreign policy issues? New public opinion polling research by Francesco Rigoli explores the psychology of populism and security. The war between Ukraine and Russia has … Continue reading Public Opinion on the War in Ukraine: Why right-wing populists are less supportive of Ukraine
AUKUS: Time for a Public Inquiry
Negotiated rapidly and in secret, the AUKUS pact to produce new nuclear-powered submarines is among the most expensive, consequential and opaque deals in British and Australian military history. Ian Lowe reports on the launch of a new civil society-led expert public inquiry into AUKUS that aims to provide the scrutiny so lacking from Australian politicians. … Continue reading AUKUS: Time for a Public Inquiry
UK Public Opinion and National Security
While the UK government has spent the last year heralding a ‘national conversation’ on defence and security, it seems to have little interest in hearing from the British public on how it views its own security. Thomas Martin shares some of the findings of his own research of public opinion, suggesting that there are significant … Continue reading UK Public Opinion and National Security
The Dangerous Logic of Europeanizing Nuclear Deterrence
Fear of Russian action and US inaction is increasingly motivating European states to propose alternative forms of nuclear ‘deterrence’ for the continent. But, argue Ian Davis and Tytti Erästö, European states should first question the outdated and dangerous framings and flawed logics of nuclear weapons that they inherited from the Cold War. On 02 March … Continue reading The Dangerous Logic of Europeanizing Nuclear Deterrence
Paying for Increased Military Spending: No easy choices for Starmer
With elections looming and pressure mounting on Keir Starmer to up the pace of British military spending increases, the Prime Minister will find that there are no easy ways to find the funds. Michael Brzoska and Ian Davis argue that neither the case for the spending increases nor the trade-offs necessary to achieve them have … Continue reading Paying for Increased Military Spending: No easy choices for Starmer
Puppetry of the Heinous: Dependence and delusion in UK defence strategy
As US strategic bombers and special forces deploy at British air bases, the UK is yet again getting sucked into a major war in the Middle East. Richard Reeve examines how London’s delusions of status and influence condemn it to repeating past mistakes and exacerbating dangerous crises. Whether Keir Starmer admits it or not, the … Continue reading Puppetry of the Heinous: Dependence and delusion in UK defence strategy
Nature, Peace and Security: Too important to leave to governments
As governments turn their attention to the intersections between nature, peace and security, civil society needs to speak up if we’re to avoid the dead-end securitisation of the climate crisis; to do so, argues Doug Weir, many of us will need to learn a new language. Global. Ecosystem. Collapse. The message is clear, the UK’s … Continue reading Nature, Peace and Security: Too important to leave to governments
Minor Problems: The benefits of an all-adult recruitment model for the British Armed Forces
The UK is among a diminishing minority of countries that recruit children to their armed forces. It does so despite ethical considerations, higher costs, lower outcomes of training, and the inability to deploy under-18s operationally. Jim Patrick Wyke makes the case for a more efficient all-adult military. The UN Convention on the Rights of the … Continue reading Minor Problems: The benefits of an all-adult recruitment model for the British Armed Forces
How Europe Should Respond to Trump’s Threats over Greenland
The crisis over Greenland marks the greatest possibility of rupture in trans-Atlantic relations since NATO’s foundation. Ian Davis considers how European states might respond to US sanctions and potential annexation of Greenland, arguing that planning should start now for a post-NATO security architecture in Europe and the Arctic. On 17 January, US President Donald Trump … Continue reading How Europe Should Respond to Trump’s Threats over Greenland
Strategising for Peace in the New Age of Empire
This month’s US National Security Strategy underlines an ongoing shift away from liberal values into a new age of empire. In this new long read, Larry Attree discusses how – by rethinking alliances, defence posture, peace and conflict policies, and international cooperation – the UK can oppose these dangerous trends and promote a more peaceful … Continue reading Strategising for Peace in the New Age of Empire