Defence and Security | Arden Strategies Strategic advice on UK defence and security policy. Arden’s experts help clients navigate government, geopolitics, and influence in a shifting global landscape.

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I served as Minister for Europe at the UK FCDO, responsible for relations with Russia, and as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence for four years.

As Executive Chair of @ardenstrategies.bsky.social I work closely with the Chair of our Defence Practice, former DG of RUSI, Dr Karin von Hippel.

The question is, can the UK learn one of the most important lessons of Ukraine - that the lack of speed, kills.

That’s the real reason why North Korea has deployed forces, Chinese ‘volunteers’ have been captured, and Iran has committed such significant support.

Each of them is learning about the nature of their next conflict by being in Ukraine.

In Ukraine capabilities are being adapted in real time, at a pace that even two years ago wasn’t foreseen. Technology is iterated every week.

We should be in no doubt that our foes are learning every day in Ukraine.

Throughout history, warfare has carried with it a brutal catalyst for innovation. The quest for survival or advantage has always forced nations to push the boundaries of technology and science.

There’s lots to look for in the Review inc:
- Meeting the conventional threat from Russia
- The UK’s role in the South China Sea
- How defence can drive regional industrial strategy
- A UK nuclear deterrent on multiple platforms
- Institutionalising pace re tech planning, procurement and deployment

A future attack on a NATO nation is no longer fanciful. And the US has generated the type of strategic ambiguity on an Article 5 defence of Europe of the sort that had previously been reserved for their deliberate posture on defending Taiwan.

The Strategic Defence Review – has taken longer than many anticipated. Now it must inject pace into the entire UK defence establishment.

After all, Russia is producing roughly one battle tank and 2,000 shells every working hour, and many are being placed into a strategic reserve.

Marianne Grant - Wikipedia

Today on the 80th anniversary of its liberation, I remember two beautiful dear friends who survived Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Marianne Grant and Ernest Levy. I’ve posted details of their experiences and life in Glasgow.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotlan...

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariann...

At Man City v West Ham.

By luck got good pic of Haaland scoring his second goal

I thought this was a 2024 award worth having.

My Whoop contraption congratulated me on being in the top 94% of sleepers this year.

Until I realised that it meant I am among worst 6% of Whoop-wearing middle-class sleepers.

Before this game the odds on Celtic beating St Johnstone 8-0 were the same as St Johnstone beating Celtic 1-0.

Amid the reports the UK spending review had been delayed, the truth is that it was significantly settled last week in Keir Starmer’s speech.

Normally Depts and HMT haggle and then No10 intervenes at last minute.

This time No10 has ruled at start of process. Very unusual, let’s see how it works.

Catch up on @glasgowmurphy.bsky.social on Newsnight this week, discussing farmer protests and the cuts to winter fuel payments - and arguing that the Government needs to make a better case for the politics behind their decisions 👇

We’ve joined the Bluesky community! 👋

We’ll be sharing our latest updates, news and insights from the Arden team, including our founder @glasgowmurphy.bsky.social 🦋