Britain as a Seapower is over after 480 years? Britain's Abandoned Seapower: a case study in deconstruction and the end of strategy.

Britain as a Seapower is over after 480 years?

www.jameswesmith.space/p/britain-as...

The Corbett Project: Corbett 100 in Review The Past, Present and Future

You can now read my update on the Corbett Project [Corbett 100] with what is in store for the future.

Includes contribution from Professor Andrew Lambert.

Update on publications, preservation and use of Sir Julian's papers, events, forum and more.

www.jameswesmith.space/p/the-corbet...

Tanker War in the Gulf: Operation Earnest Will, Diplomacy and Seapower in Practice - The Naval Review 248 pages

My latest book review is out: ‘Tanker War in the Gulf: Operation Earnest Will, Diplomacy and Seapower in Practice.’

Useful reading on so many fronts from the Red Sea to Indo-Pacific, thru naval operations. Of interest to a broad audience.

www.naval-review.com/book-reviews...

" 'Seablindness' has done as much damage, if not more, to the Royal Navy than enemy action since 1945. The reality is you cannot live on reputation alone, and the hourglass seems nearly empty on that front." kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/st...

Seablindness Rules Britannia. From the Red Sea’s trade routes to Whitehall’s policy frameworks and into classroom curricula, a persistent issue emerges: seablindness, and now, it is breaking the Royal Navy. Land-centric thinking i...

As a partial primer for my forthcoming title, I revisit my 2024 article: ‘Seablindness and the Royal Navy’. What I find is grim: Seablindness has worsened, reaffirming that an island nations defences are strategically adrift by choice rather than accident. www.jameswesmith.space/p/seablindes...

You can't educate people who do not want to learn...

Cute you think British Grand Strategy is a thing. Grand Strategy was an ivory tower creation by academia, than reality. It was a classroom exercise by some academics to make themselves sound better than those who actually understand what strategy is and isn't.

You can read in Jan 2026 Warships IFR my article:

'Britain Needs Admiralty NOT a Ministry of War'.

I argue restoration of national strategy hand-in-hand with fundamental defence organisational change is the key to the successful defence of Britain & its interests.

The Challenges for Space Strategy | King's College London Join Dr James Smith and Dr John Klein for an engaging online lecture on the future of space strategy, exploring the challenges of space warfare, geopolitics and the evolving role of space in global de...

Join John J. Klein and myself online with what has become an annual tradition, where we explore developments both intellectually and practically in #spacestrategy #spacewarfare #spacepolicy and more.

Link: www.kcl.ac.uk/events/the-c...

I see no ships: our shrinking Royal Navy in numbers The navy is smaller than at any other point since the English Civil War and ships and submarines are ageing rapidly

Wrote by a former War Studies Grad. Featuring Professor Lambert and I, we reflect on the situation the Royal Navy and British seapower currently finds itself.

The Times Newspaper Article [Dec, 10 2025]: thetimes.com/article/eb4a...

Corbett 100: Naval Strategy in the 21st Century: From Seabed to Space | King's College London This naval strategy seminar sees scholars from the UK, US, France, Australia, Japan and the Netherlands look to the future of Naval Strategy.

Join the Corbett 100 team for our 4th conference: "Naval Strategy in the 21st Century: from Seabed to Space."

Scholars from the UK, US, France, Australia, Japan, and the Netherlands discuss the future of Naval Strategy.

www.kcl.ac.uk/events/corbe...

Endgame For Seablindness: Defence Organisation And The Future Of The Royal Navy And The United States Navy First published in the Naval Review, the author revisits the issue of seablindness comparing the history of defence unification in the UK and US and taking stock of the situation today.

If you are member for US Naval Institute you can now read my deep dive on the future of defence organization, navies and national strategy, which are all interconnected.

www.usni.org/magazines/pr...

'No Longer A Distant Frontier': How Can Britain Compete In The 'Battlefield' Of Space? As hostile states seek to expand their reach in space, how can the UK defend its infrastructure? Noah Vickers reports

I recently provided a brief to US and UK politicians on the importance of maritime strategy for space. In this UK Parliament publication, it makes public some of my comments.

www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Endgame for Seablindness: defence organisation and the future of the Royal Navy and the United States Navy - The Naval Review It is an overlooked fundamental fact that the analysis of history proves, since the founding of professional navies, beginning with the Royal Navy in 1546,

My latest paper for the UK Naval Review and US Naval Institute is out:

'Endgame for Seablindness: defence organisation & the future of the Royal Navy & United States Navy'.

www.naval-review.com/news-views/e...

Why Lord Nelson matters in 2025 Lord Nelson has much insight to offer to this day, ranging from the role of navies, the future of war––from seabed to space––and leadership in defence organisation.

Lord Nelson has much insight to offer to this day, ranging from the role of navies, the future of war––from seabed to space––and leadership in defence organisation.

Read my latest commentary: www.jameswesmith.space/p/why-lord-n...

250 years of American military ambition at sea Today marks 250 years of the United States of America looking to the seas as a place to be a military and naval power.

You can now read my commentary piece marking the US Navy at 250 years of American ambition at sea.

www.jameswesmith.space/p/250-years-...

The Future of Defence Organisation Resurfaces? How defence is organised is fundamental in enabling or hindering national policy and strategy in peace and wartime. Equally, the organisation of defence impacts command and control of military…

You can now read my latest paper on current developments in the UK and the US on defence organisation.

'The Future of Defence Organisation Resurfaces?'

Link: www.kcl.ac.uk/the-future-o...

Renaming 'Department of Defense' to 'Department of War' is playing with old divisions, debates & issues that today's nation has little knowledge & understanding of. Beware, nightmares of a kind unparalleled in modern defence are contained within the past.

www.jameswesmith.space/p/a-note-abo...

Navies are Our Guide for Space Strategy - Center for Maritime Strategy Space is an ocean—not metaphorically, but conceptually and operationally. The cosmic frontier has always been militarised but experience in it remains limited compared to other domains like the land a...

You can now read my latest paper that explores the past, present and future of Space Strategy.

‘Navies are Our Guide for Space Strategy’.

centerformaritimestrategy.org/publications...

You can read my review of the UK 2025 Defence Review in the August edition of Warships IFR [18 July 2025]. I continue to advance the argument 'strategy is dead' and defence organisation isn't working.

The British Air Power Delusion 1906-1941 - The Naval Review 328 pages

You can now read my book review of 'The British Air Power Delusion 1906-1941' at the UK Naval Review website.

www.naval-review.com/book-reviews...

Screening the Fleet: The Royal Navy on Television 1973-2023 - The Naval Review 271 pages

You can now read on the UK Naval Review journal website, my book review of 'Screening the Fleet: The Royal Navy on Television 1973-2023.'

www.naval-review.com/book-reviews...

Letter to the Editor: Strategic Defence Review - The Naval Review Sir, - If it is unclear by now, the relationship between the nation, government and the sea, let alone the Navy, strategy and sea power, is fundamentally

If you are a member of the UK Naval Review Journal you can read my 'Letter to the Editor', reflecting on the 2025 British defence review and the future of the Royal Navy and White Ensign.

Link: www.naval-review.com/news-views/l...

Cultural Influences on the Law of the Sea: History, Legacy and Future Prospects - The Naval Review 352 pages

My latest book review for The Naval Review

'Cultural Influences on the Law of the Sea: History, Legacy and Future Prospects.'

–– an important & timely edited volume, examining how cultural factors influencing international maritime law.

www.naval-review.com/book-reviews...

Update on my progress as the Laughton-Corbett Research Fellow.

www.kcl.ac.uk/people/james...

Yes, I've continually argued this point across my papers.

A Future for British Seapower and the Royal Navy? Dr James WE Smith, as the Laughton-Research Corbett Research Fellow, examines the evolving role of navies, particularly the Royal Navy, in the modern era of unprecedented technological…

My latest paper 'A Future for British Seapower and the Royal Navy?' is out via @warstudieskcl.bsky.social

www.kcl.ac.uk/a-future-for...

Learn a little more about Research impact King’s College London, which, as a research fellow, I help enable as part of a community of thinkers and doers.

Learning from the Royal Navy: Lessons for the USN on Sea Power Politics - Center for Maritime Strategy The U.S. Navy and Britain’s Royal Navy are different organizations. Although Americans have repeatedly tried to emulate the Royal Navy—at first due to the threat it posed, then later for the wisdom sa...

You can now read via the Centre of Maritime Strategy

'Learning from the Royal Navy: Lessons for the USN on Sea Power Politics​'

I offer insight to American's about the state of the Royal Navy in 2025,& discuss the perpetual problem of 'seablindness'.

centerformaritimestrategy.org/publications...

My article 'Restore the British Way of War & Keeping the Peace' is now in-print and in-digital with the May 2025 Warships IFR Magazine.

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