The Guardian view on defence spending: should the UK’s security rest with Donald Trump? | Editorial Editorial: A former Nato chief demands more cash while fixing Britain’s global role. Before billions are spent, ministers must define the purpose of its military

On-the-money editorial in the Guardian today putting SDR authors' pitch to bankroll the UK's supporting role in US empire in its proper context.

theguardian.com/commentisfre...

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. Micha…

With pressure mounting on the PM to up the pace of UK military spending increases, he'll find no easy political solutions.

Michael Brzoska & Ian Davis argue that neither the case for spending increases nor trade-offs necessary to achieve them has been made.
rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/2026/04/15/p...

The defence industry’s revolving door Exclusive analysis reveals the high rate of former MoD and military officials moving to major defence firms vying for UK government contracts. Are cur...

With some comments from us

The defence industry’s revolving door -
@prospect_uk

Military AI company Helsing has hired or has as advisers former Number 10 press secretary, former MoD special adviser, two former ministers and former chief of the defence staff general @caatuk.bsky.social

All true, yet in a global context of grotesque inequality, aggressive imperial war and conquest, extraordinary US exceptionalism, hypocrisy and complicity in genocide and other war crimes, none of this is net positive for the rest of the world, certainly not for the world beyond the Global West.

Today is a good day to read @dronewarsuk.bsky.social's briefing on the USAF use of RAF Fairford for air strikes against Iran.
Today is the day the UK government must stop all US combat aircraft flying from its bases, whether in the UK, Cyprus or Diego Garcia.

dronewars.net/wp-content/u...

We’re excited to share our next free event on militarism and the politics of education!

We’ll be joined by Professor Anna Stavrianakis, Khem Rogaly, Dr Sam Perlo-Freeman, and Jinsella Kennaway.

Sign up for tickets below 👇

📅Tue 26 May 2026 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM BST 🧪

www.sgr.org.uk/events/milit...

Finally, not sure what to make of this under 'Making defence diplomacy a whole‑of‑society effort'.

Could be good if the MoD was genuinely open to independent challenge and listening rather than telling on security/defence priorities. But is it?

Any lacunae?

Arctic/High North/Baltic - Surprisingly nothing overt on this actual priority and, Norway aside, there are minimal references to JEF, Canada, Poland or Baltics.

Any lacunae?

Gulf/Middle East - Not an easy time to pin this down, but.. what's the plan? The one para speaks of "security assurances, increased joint capability development" but "also advocating for increased burden sharing and intelligence exchanges with regional partners". So many questions.

Any lacunae?

The USA - mentioned early "as the UK’s most important defence and security ally" and that the UK will "double down on our strongest partnerships". But otherwise absent except as essential partner in AUKUS and nuclear enterprise. To big to fail; too tetchy to speak of openly.

What's In?

Exports - Very overtly a focus here, but (despite what Lord Coaker writes in his intro) they also were in the 2017 IDES, when 'promoting prosperity' was the goal.

'Nuclear relationships' - evolved from just a bilateral US issue to include Australia (AUKUS) and (separately) France.

What's In?

Most mentioned other partners - Norway (x11), Germany (x10), France (x9) - fits with recent bilateral Lunna, Trinity & Lancaster House accords.

Australia, Indonesia & NZ get most mentions of non-European states. But very few.

LatAm/Caribbean gets one mention, which it didn't in 2017.

What's In?

'Warfighting readiness' - The SDR's favourite phrase, reiterated here.

NATO/Euro-Atlantic - 52 mentions! Clearly the indicated priority.

Ukraine - 23 mentions. The most important bilateral focus identified.

What's Out?

Africa, Asia - Only one passing mention of sub-Saharan Africa, and the 'Indo-Pacific' is well past its 2017-2021 zenith, although "seeking to maintain a persistent military presence" there remains.

What's Out?

UN Peacekeeping, 'building stability', human rights, Women, Peace & Security - Big themes of IDES; not a peep on any in DDS, similar to NSS 2025. No mention at all of UN or OSCE.

What's Out?

'Developing understanding' - No longer a top objective, though it is in there; seems to mark a shift from understanding others' perspectives to communicating UK priorities/capabilities.

What's out?

Conflict prevention - one of the 5 objectives of IDES. Not even a mention here.

"Shaping the global security environment" is the partial rephrasing of non-warfighting stuff, and largely framed around protecting energy/CRM supply chains and trade routes.

Caveat - This is the Public Summary so might be way off the actual/secret version - but also more clearly intended to send/set a coherent public message/narrative. And to align with Labour's 2025 SDR/NSS. It clearly plays up post-2024 accords/exports and downplays Tory ones (e.g. AUKUS, GCAP).

Defence Diplomacy Strategy How UK Defence can deepen its international relationships with allies and partners to support defence and wider foreign policy.

This week the MoD released its Defence Diplomacy Strategy, replacing the Int'l Defence Engagement Strategy of 2017.

No big reveals. It's solid, NATO-First stuff. But worth a quick check-in on what's in/up and what's out/down compared to the 'Global Britain' era IDES.

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Did anything similar happen to the Finns of Karelia? Or were they all evacuated to Finland?

A moving and joyous memorial service for our friend and mentor Simon Fisher this afternoon.
Simon was one of the great thinkers, writers and practitioners of conflict transformation and helped to inspire, found and guide RS over his last decade. His legacy is immense.
Famba naye.

Don’t be a stepping stone for war In the face of escalating war, Hannah Brock Womack shares how to keep pushing back against the idea that conflict is inevitable.

In the face of escalating war, Hannah Brock Womack shares how to keep pushing back against the idea that conflict is inevitable.

www.quaker.org.uk/blog/don-t-b...

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 stat…

"Not to course correct now means not only heading for a permanent war economy but following the course to permanent war."

Latest from Richard Reeve @rethinkingsecurity.bsky.social with a title that says it all.

rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/2026/03/09/p...

Thought-provoking as ever from Richard R @rethinkingsecurity.bsky.social on the codependency of the ‘special relationship’ and the UK’s strategic national security options

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 stat…

As US bombers & special forces deploy at British bases, the UK is getting sucked into another major war in the Middle East.
Richard Reeve analyses how delusions of status & influence condemn the UK to repeating past mistakes & exacerbating dangerous crises.
rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/2026/03/09/p...

Why This Is the Most Dangerous War In Decades - Prof. Paul Rogers' Must Watch Interview YouTube video by Owen Jones

Paul Rogers spoke at the Northern Friends Peace Board meeting last weekend just as the bombing of Iran began. His analysis was that we are at the most dangerous moment for decades.

This weekend he spoke to @owenjones.bsky.social and his insights are, as always, very helpful youtu.be/VT-mk2HOsNo?...

This may be stating the obvious, but nonetheless it needs saying and repeating.

What does just and sustainable security look like?