In terms of the political realities on the ground, at the moment the best hope for the future of Iran is probably that a pragmatist of a similar ilk to Gorbachev gains power
Sure, ministers can claim that Britain is on “war footing”, but how can it really be when the money remains theoretical.
Iran doesn’t need to win a naval battle. By dumping cheap mines in the Strait, Tehran can freeze not only 20 per cent of the world’s oil but also 5 per cent of global trade. It’s the ultimate asymmetric play: dirt cheap, total gridlock
Amidst alarm at our apparent lack of warfighting readiness, Labour are burning through the months in which they could have seized an opportunity to transform our military. Why? They’ve never truly prioritised defence where it matters – in HMT, the Cabinet Office and Number 10
Focussed on domestic issues, the November budget made no reference as to how the 5 per cent NATO defence spending target will be met. The UK Government is doing too little to prepare the British people for the security challenges ahead.
Britain should use these geopolitical moments to strengthen relationships with countries that share our institutions, our outlook, and out strategic interests.
If the voters are going to accept the costs of rearmament, the positive case needs to be made. This includes bluntly explaining the risks that those of us who obsessively monitor the news are already aware of. It also requires setting out why our military power matters.
I have seen how hard Ukraine has worked to preserve relations with the West. Yes, it has been slow, yes faltering at times but support flowed because Kyiv proved itself a serious partner that can be trusted.
This government of international lawyers, by international lawyers for international lawyers has used its own skewed and incompetent interpretations of human rights, net zero, post-colonial settlements and other international treaties to sell us out and weaken our security.
He says Cyprus has been left undefended because Keir Starmer and the Government “showed no foresight whatsoever”.
Churchill fought a war having argued for years that Britain was economically and militarily unprepared. Starmer is trying not to fight a war arguing via his Chancellor that never before has so much been promised for defence. For so little return when it matters, it seems.
The EU seeks to avoid duplication, but there is already a cross-European defence forum that could address efficiency issues, such as armed forces’ inter-operability, it’s called NATO.
For the sake of Britain’s security and credibility, it should be scrapped entirely.
Conservatives should be pressuring Keir Starmer to stand unequivocally with our European allies against economic coercion. Not out of sentimentality, but out of self-interest.
Diverting the current course would be a costly exercise that would not provide a significant improvement in security and bring into question the future of the ‘special relationship’.