Security and Defence

Despite its tight budget, the U.K. continues to make a major contribution to Western security. But Brexit and financial miscalculation now present a potentially crippling threat to the British military.

House of Commons Defence Committee publishes evidence submitted by the HSC on the Royal Marines and the UK's amphibious capability

North Korea’s nuclear and missile weapons programs have drawn considerable attention, yet they mask critical military vulnerabilities. To meet the threat posed by North Korea, the US and its allies should expand and modernize their surveillance and precision strike systems.

The deployment of a missile deterrent in Europe based upon the Long Range Precision Fires programme would present Russia with the prospect of rapid retaliation to any aggression.

The Diplomat magazine has carried analysis by HSC senior fellow Rowan Allport on the possible role of the Australian military in a new Korean War

In the 16 months since the Brexit vote, European Commission figures have certainly hinted towards ever-closer security and defence union after the UK leaves. But advances towards such integration are still in the very early stages.

RealClear Defense has published HSC senior fellow Rowan Allport's call for the US to adopt a Aegis-based homeland missile defence system as part of its strategy for defeating the threat from cruise and ballistic missiles.

As Britain comes to grips with a series of (largely self-inflicted) political traumas, the country’s security focus is becoming increasingly rationalised around its NATO commitments. Whilst they were conceived of in a different era, the Queen Elizabeth-class have the potential – if properly supported – to greatly aid this mission.

The US, Japan, and South Korea would greatly benefit from Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul taking a more direct approach to constraining Pyongyang. Only by relying less on Beijing can progress hoped to be made in forcing policy changes in North Korea.

China’s announced increase in its defense budget for 2017, only seven percent growth compared to double-digit increases over much of the last two decades, attests to the shifting landscape in Chinese defense strategy and force structure. It also reflects the domestic challenges the country faces.