DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Fate of the Littoral Strike Ship inextricably linked to fortunes of minister
April Fools’ Day is not traditionally regarded as an auspicious day to make serious announcements to the media. But in keeping with his reputation as ...
NWI - Naval Warfare
Opinion: West feeling the squeeze in choke point contest
Empires are built on trade and commerce, and for centuries control of key land or maritime trade routes has been integral to securing the long-term ...
NWI - Naval Warfare
Opinion: Negotiating the MCM minefield
‘Every ship can be a minesweeper – once’ is a familiar naval saying, but one that is no less relevant today than it has been ...
DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Controlling the information space
In the last few weeks India and Pakistan have come close to the brink of outright war over ongoing issues in the Kashmir region. The ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Williamson promises the Earth but can he deliver?
13th February 2019
Gavin Williamson, the Secretary of State for Defence has used a speech at Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) on 11 February to set out his ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Fiscal chasm yawns at continued UK MoD travails
4th February 2019
The UK Public Accounts Committee has issued a damning report into the state of MoD funding for the Equipment Programme. Having reported in May 2018 ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Venezuela crisis puts superpowers on collision course
29th January 2019
The recent inauguration of President Nicholas Maduro of Venezuela has led to a cycle of events emerging which have the potential to cause a serious ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: UK MoD takes centre stage in political drama
9th January 2019
The Christmas and New Year period saw British forces deployed globally on a range of missions and tasks. Some roles were routine, others were in ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: How did the UK fare in 2018?
20th December 2018
As the end of 2018 approaches, the UK appears to be in a strategically ambiguous position at best. The ongoing debate over Brexit and how ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Is NATO's response to Russia enough?
5th December 2018
The seizure of three Ukrainian vessels by Russia on 25 November has significantly raised tensions between the two nations, caused international outcry and been regarded ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Did new UK budget address defence concerns?
5th November 2018
The UK’s Chancellor, Phillip Hammond, has delivered his budget to the country and announced additional funding for the Ministry of Defence. Over the next two ...
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NWI - Naval Warfare
Opinion: Royal Navy navigates icy waters
19th October 2018
The annual UK party political conference season is over. An opportunity for politicians to make promises they know they’ll never have to keep and ministers ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Europe's forgotten war
15th September 2018
In February 2014, a separatist movement emerged in the Crimea, backed by armed groups and with Russian military assistance, they took control of the region ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Royal Navy goes global, but treads fine line with China
12th September 2018
The Royal Navy’s flagship, the amphibious assault ship HMS Albion, has spent much of 2018 deployed in the Far East supporting UK strategic interests in ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: The African investment vs presence dilemma
4th September 2018
At the end of August, British Prime Minister Theresa May made her first official visit to Africa where during a whirlwind tour across the continent, ...
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NWI - Naval Warfare
Opinion: Retention in the Royal Navy
22nd August 2018
The old strapline ‘Join the Navy, see the world’ used to be on many naval recruitment posters. Tapping into a desire by young people to ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Decisions beckon after UK summer holidays
9th August 2018
August is traditionally a sleepy period, as the UK government takes a breather and staff disappear for holidays. The flow of news dries up and ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Modernising Defence Programme falls short
1st August 2018
After a year of studies, reviewing, leaked options and rows between Ministers, the MoD’s latest ‘Modernising Defence Programme’ (MDP) Review has concluded, with the headline ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Fractious NATO gives Russia upper hand in Europe
27th July 2018
NATO is an alliance founded to protect member states being threatened by a strategic shock. Yet the most recent NATO summit saw the previously unthinkable ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Carter’s capability challenges
4th July 2018
General Sir Nick Carter has now formally taken on the role of Chief of the Defence Staff for the British Armed Forces. Carter comes to ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Winds of change in Whitehall
20th June 2018
Change is afoot in Whitehall, as Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach hands over as chief of the defence staff (CDS) to General Nick Carter. This ...
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DN - Defence Notes
Opinion: Is the door closed for MoD spending?
11th June 2018
Overbudget, under resourced and torn between maintaining a home industrial base or being able to afford equipment in plentiful amounts. That seems to be the ...
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NWI - Naval Warfare
Opinion: UK leans toward maritime security focus
4th June 2018
At the Royal United Service Institute (RUSI) Seapower conference in May, Gavin Williamson, the secretary of state for defence and Adm Phillip Jones, First Sea ...
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NWI - Naval Warfare
Opinion: Royal Navy sailing to stronger waters?
9th May 2018
In late 2017 the UK Royal Navy (RN) seemed to be in a difficult place. Wracked by funding challenges threatening enormous cuts, and unable to ...
