Second EU-UK Summit set for 22 July, it seems www.gov.uk/government/n...

I was glad to go on the @chathamhouse.org podcast this week to grapple (pretty much in real time) with John Healey resigning and the UK's defence plans, alongside my excellent colleague @mgmessmer.bsky.social. www.chathamhouse.org/2026/06/defe...

Big blow for Starmer and the credibility of the UK - defence secretary John Healey resigns, arguing Starmer was not willing to increase defence spending to the level Healey regards as necessary.

Good to ask @tomfletcherun.bsky.social today at @chathamhouse.org if international diplomacy is broken - and get his answer - broken for who? www.youtube.com/shorts/1sD3X...

This paper represents a small but deeply impressive and genuinely important achievement by the much maligned British state in what is probably the most important global issue of our era. Hear me out ( 🧵) 1/ www.aisi.gov.uk/blog/our-eva...

The Strategic Defence Review, which Robertson spearheaded, came out in September 2025, as I was writing the last chapter of my book, which is focused on foreign policy and strategy. I read that entire document and interviewed a number of experts about it. A few thoughts. 🧵

Britain’s leaders have shown a “corrosive complacency” towards defence, putting the country “in peril” while it is “under attack”, a key government adviser has warned, in a stinging rebuke of Sir Keir Starmer’s military policy. via @lucyfisher.ft.com www.ft.com/content/88b1...

UK government has put out a call for input relating to its own future anti coercion instrument Doc "sets out the rationale for why the UK government is considering new powers to protect the UK from adverse economic pressure and how these might work" www.gov.uk/governmen...

Will everyone please accordingly update their class takes, which will take effect from 5pm today

CNN reporting a "regional source" saying there may be some kind of ceasefire deal tonight. edition.cnn.com/2026/04/07/w...

Good call yesterday with Keir Starmer. We discussed the situation in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s actions are putting global economic stability at risk. We will work with our partners to ensure freedom of navigation can resume as soon as possible.

FT exclusive: The UK government is on the verge of fully nationalising British Steel, almost a year on from using emergency legislation to take control of the business www.ft.com/content/f885...

Start your day with a very moving lunch with the FT, sensitively told by @edwardluce.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/4c17...

Really pleased to have this piece from our UK in the World and Middle East and North Africa Associate Fellow @cjophillips.bsky.social on the tightrope Starmer is trying to walk on Iran, and what it means for the UK's relationship to American power:

Keir Starmer confirms suspension of crypto-donations to political parties. “I can tell the house, we will act decisively to protect our democracy – that will include a moratorium on all political donations made through cryptocurrencies.”

UK pumps extra funding into BBC World Service as conflicts escalate reut.rs/3PuRxHs

Good news.

"I think the worst-case scenario for the Gulf states is playing out. They’re seeing a US-Israeli operation being executed with no day-after planning." Read Sanam Vakil's interview with @ichotiner.bsky.social for @newyorker.com on the impact of the US-Israel war with Iran on the Gulf states.

Opposition to the United States' military action against Iran has risen by 10pts among Britons over the last week Support: 25% (-3 from 2 March) Oppose: 59% (+10) yougov.com/en-gb/daily-...

Latest assessment on US/Israeli attack on Iran. The administration continues to give the impression that it is making it up as it goes along. The choices for the Iranian regime remain dire but it continues to show defiance and cause international economic turmoil. open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/m...?

Legal advice re use of UK bases for attacks on Iranian missile bases now published www.gov.uk/government/n...

Good to see that there is *finally* some movement on this! “Neutral Ireland is seeking closer co-operation with the UK and other Nato countries to defend its vast maritime area as Russia intensifies its surveillance of vulnerable undersea cables that criss-cross Irish waters.”

Snap judgement on Trump Supreme Court verdict - UK largely unaffected, may get lower tariffs now, but hadn't committed much to get them. EU, never ratified Trump deal anyway, now don't until the next step. China, still tariffs. More affected - those who did full deals e.g. Indonesia, Vietnam

SCOOP: Carney constructs a mega anti-Trump trade alliance www.politico.eu/article/eu-a...

And another bites the dust? The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Starmer also pointedly emphasising Greenland’s sovereignty and hymning British troops who died in Afghanistan here

⚡️US military aid to Ukraine dropped 99% in 2025, report finds. European countries stepped in to fill the gap, increasing military aid to Ukraine by 67% and non-military support by 59% in 2025, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

It was great to chat to @philtinline.bsky.social for the writing of this excellent report, which gets to grips with why it is so hard for the state to actually do stuff, and features a cameo from my old team, the Open Innovation Team. Many insights in here apply to foreign policy too:

There is such huge opportunity cost to each Trump tantrum. So many people with critical jobs have lost another week when they could have been doing something useful.

Trump's Greenland threats undermine the idea US tariffs are about aligning allies against China or onshoring industry. They're a tool to get things Trump wants. This is just one marker of a new era of economic coercion. In our @chathamhouse.org comment, Jerome Puri and I look at the UK's options:

Feels like something cracked today in the transatlantic alliance. Europeans have been swallowing their pride, bitting their tongues, and bending the knee. That strategy may have bought them time but it has now clearly failed. It also had a major cost - it has made the WH think Europe will cave. 1/

Donald Trump hopes to get Venezuela's oil flowing again, but this will not come cheap. Tripling production, from 1 million to 3 million barrels of oil a day, would cost an estimated $183 billion.

"This sends a very clear signal to Russia and to China that regional spheres of influence are not something to be avoided but infact embraced." Laurel Rapp on US President Donald Trump's geopolitical ambitions in Greenland and Venezuela, via BBC News.

Joint Statement of major EU/NATO countries on Greenland, together with Denmark:

New post from @ldfreedman.bsky.social "Trump, Maduro and the Panama Precedent" Trying to make sense of today's events... (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...

Our experts give their initial reaction to President Trump’s strike on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Read in full ⤵️

This by @ecfr.eu’s Majda Ruge is a good guide to Trump’s calculus on Venezuela. Rival factions (primacists, prioritisers, restrainers) have been counseling different courses of action, but “the answers depend on what the president decides will bring him the biggest ‘win’.” ecfr.eu/article/maga...

NEW: Trump administration launches direct military strikes on Venezuela. Explosions reported in Caracas. Aircraft reported flying over the city.

New post just out: "Advice for advisers - 14 lessons for making government work" A final guest post of the year from former PM adviser Henry de Zoete on how to make things happen in power. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/a...

We strongly condemn the U.S. decision to impose travel restrictions on five European individuals, including former Commissioner Thierry Breton. Link to full statement: link.europa.eu/NtMX4K

SCOOP: Starmer and Carney are working on a new strategic partnership that could see Canada buy the U.K.'s 6th-gen fighter jet, forge critical minerals deals and resolve thorny trade and tariff issues, High Commissioner Goodale tells POLITICO as he steps down. www.politico.eu/article/cana...

Christian Turner to be new UK ambassador to US ft.trib.al/9UNDHMq

UK to hold inquiry into foreign financial interference in domestic politics

“Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Louise Sandher-Jones said that “for the first time since early 2021, Armed Forces intake is now greater than outflow”. In the 12 months to 1 Oct 25, “there was an increase of 13% in people joining the Armed Forces compared to the previous 12-month period”.”

Good piece in the @wsj.com on the US's National Security Strategy - which includes some of my thoughts on what this means for Europe. Boils down to: No more "Trump whisperers", European leaders can no longer deny that the transatlantic relationship as we knew it is dead. www.wsj.com/world/europe...

As I wrote yesterday, my understanding was that the demand of the EU towards Canada for SAFE participation was much lower than towards the UK. If this report is correct, though, the €10 million agreement is much lower, and rather closer to the UK's proposal for its contribution.