Essentially, a correct opinion, if for me personally not the overriding defence priority of things to fix/change (an exceptionally long list by this stage). Of course, it won't be easy. But that is not a reason to not do it.

Interesting read. Agree with almost all of the points made. Resilience is key and receives insufficient attention in the UK. I've written about this same area and did a couple of threads at the other place. Intend to update and put on here soon.

'Who do you think you are kidding Mr Putin...' I wrote about whether the UK should establish a new Home Guard. My answer? Not really - but we should focus on a Civil Defence organisation instead.

Good news.

I wrote a Primer on the UK's nuclear and conventional deterrence. We need much better integration and understanding of deterrence within the Government, alongside a lot more conventional options (i.e. missiles) for bridging the gap between what we have now and nuclear exchange.

Britain needs to integrate its conventional and nuclear deterrence to provide credible deterrence in the ‘Third Nuclear Age’ 🔗 Read the latest #Primer from the #StrategicDefenceUnit by @so3brocktree.bsky.social, our Adjunct Fellow: www.geostrategy.org....

I wrote a Primer on the UK's nuclear and conventional deterrence. We need much better integration and understanding of deterrence within the Government, alongside a lot more conventional options (i.e. missiles) for bridging the gap between what we have now and nuclear exchange.

With hollowed-out conventional forces, 🇬🇧 risks having few options between absorbing an attack and nuclear escalation @so3brocktree.bsky.social, our Adjunct Fellow, examines how better integrating conventional and nuclear deterrence could close that gap. #StrategicDefenceUnit

from the makers of "I am an infectious disease expert" and "wait now I am an expert in land warfare," now enjoy "extreme knower of middle east geopolitics and ballistic missile defense"

I don't always love Janan Ganesh but he's bang on here. I honestly think sometimes that British politics would be so much healthier if all politicians just collectively ignored American politics.

Is life harder for young people today than it was for Baby Boomers? The answer is yes. Here’s why.👇🏾

Shock.

Poland investing hard in air defence.

Beautiful little article here on the revival of hedgerows in the British countryside.

What I love about Reddit is that you get these wonderful glimpses into completely sealed epistemic chambers on the same site. If you dropped this screengrab on r/AskHistorians I think it might kill someone. Certainly it would cause several ulcers.

'Who do you think you are kidding Mr Putin...' I wrote about whether the UK should establish a new Home Guard. My answer? Not really - but we should focus on a Civil Defence organisation instead.

Due to a sharp increase in fiber-optic prices driven by Chinese suppliers, a Starlink satellite terminal has become cheaper than a coil of fiber-optic cable several dozen kilometers long used to control strike drones. militarnyi.com/en/news/star...

It’s not just that little can be done by this autumn. Little can be done this side of 2030 and it’s highly probably little can be done, full stop, given the maturity of the N Sea basin. This much shared Carbon Brief graph says it all.

Happy International Women's Day 2026 to you all. This is an amazing 'first' photo of women at every rank in the British Army. It's built on the effort of all our women, together with the effort of all our great guys because the thing about equality is that it takes everyone 🤩 Have a fab day all 🥳

Its always unnerving to see people talking about war like its sports game, supporting their respective teams, like its not something with extraordinary destruction that, under the BEST of circumstances, those who haven't been obliterated, will need to spend many decades attempting to rebuild from.

These are Olena Udovichenko and her son Hordii. A Russian missile killed them today. Olena was a teacher in a Kharkiv school, Hordii was a second-grader there. Last night, Russia killed 11 people in Kharkiv, including Olena and Hordii. RIP.

🇸🇪 Video of seizing the Russian shadow fleet vessel Caffa.

🔧For the first time, Great Britain has officially confirmed the operation of a network of its own centers for servicing and repairing military equipment directly in Ukraine. militarnyi.com/en/news/brit...

"U.S. Marines opened fire on demonstrators during the storming of the Karachi consulate over the weekend" "Ten people were killed on Sunday" "Citing initial information, the two U.S. officials said it was unclear whether rounds fired by Marines struck or killed anyone. "

Good summary from the FT here.

Good summary from the FT here.

A good reminder that, however technological and 'precise' war might seem, it is still messy and difficult and riddled with chance and error. Not to mention horrifically tragic for those on the receiving end of violence.

'Last week, I had a conversation with a taxi driver in Dubai, who proudly stated that in a mad, turbulent world, the Emirate would prosper due to its safety and openness to business. A few days later Dubai found itself hit by Iranian missiles.' My personal reflections on the war in the Gulf.

A good reminder that, however technological and 'precise' war might seem, it is still messy and difficult and riddled with chance and error. Not to mention horrifically tragic for those on the receiving end of violence.

Reports circulating on social media late this evening claim there has been an impact or explosion caused by Iranian weaponry at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. ukdefencejournal.org.uk/reports-of-p...

'Last week, I had a conversation with a taxi driver in Dubai, who proudly stated that in a mad, turbulent world, the Emirate would prosper due to its safety and openness to business. A few days later Dubai found itself hit by Iranian missiles.' My personal reflections on the war in the Gulf.

Iranian drones hit French naval air base in UAE — French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin confirmed on X that "a hangar at our naval base adjacent to the Emirati base was hit in a drone attack targeting the port of Abu Dhabi." Damage is material damage and no injuries reported.

A quick and dirty comparison of air defence capability between the UK and UAE. Apart from slightly less fighters, the UAE has far more - and longer-ranged - air defence than the UK does, and unlike the UK has dedicated ballistic missile defence.

A quick and dirty comparison of air defence capability between the UK and UAE. Apart from slightly less fighters, the UAE has far more - and longer-ranged - air defence than the UK does, and unlike the UK has dedicated ballistic missile defence.

On top of this - people are people. Sneering at expatriates in Dubai who are currently under fire from the safety of your own home does not do you much credit, imo. Let's have a bit of empathy for all the civilians across the Middle East at the moment, wherever they might be.

On top of this - people are people. Sneering at expatriates in Dubai who are currently under fire from the safety of your own home does not do you much credit, imo. Let's have a bit of empathy for all the civilians across the Middle East at the moment, wherever they might be.

Fuck even Oman has been hit now, despite being the mediator over the past few weeks. There is a British military facility at Duqm - I wonder if it was an intended target.

Fuck even Oman has been hit now, despite being the mediator over the past few weeks. There is a British military facility at Duqm - I wonder if it was an intended target.

UAE says it destroyed 132 Iranian missiles and repelled 195 Iranian drone attacks.

A week ago I took a taxi in Dubai and the driver rightly noted that in a turbulent world and fraught region, the UAE's primary selling point was its guaranteed stability. How quickly things change.

Current sort of message I'm sending to my family at the moment. Fuck me.

Still going. My friends and family can hear them.

🇬🇧🛳️ The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre has received numerous reports from officers on ships operating in the Persian Gulf that the Strait of Hormuz is closed. The Iranian military is effectively blocking traffic. However, ships are still moving.

Current sort of message I'm sending to my family at the moment. Fuck me.

Fuck me. Surreal to see the Palm get hit. My family and friends out there can hear the explosions.

Fuck, the idea of Dubai being hit is surreal. I was there three fucking days ago. Its been the beacon of safety and stability in the region all the time we lived there.

Fuck, the idea of Dubai being hit is surreal. I was there three fucking days ago. Its been the beacon of safety and stability in the region all the time we lived there.

Fuck me. Surreal to see the Palm get hit. My family and friends out there can hear the explosions.