How should Britain respond to rising European populism? We asked 7 experts in today’s #BigAsk ✍️ @ameliahadfield1.bsky.social, Sir Paul Lever KCMG, @ed-owen.bsky.social, James Rogers, Dr Michael Toomey, @simonusherwood.bsky.social and Prof. Stefan Wolff #BritainsWorld

How should Britain respond to rising European populism?

The Big Ask | No. 17.2026

britainsworld.org.uk

New season of #DefenceTalks out now! Dr Mary Haigh, @baesystems.com breaks down why the most future-proof skills in defense aren't technical but they’re human: ⚖️ Good judgement 💡 Integrity 🟢 Strong moral code ▶️ Watch the full episode now: www.youtube.com/watc...

By increasing reliance on the #NorthernSeaRoute for shipping, 🇬🇧 and Europe are walking into a geostrategic trap. Read the latest analysis from @covertshores.bsky.social, our Adjunct Fellow 👇 #Memorandum #BritainsWorld #StrategicDefenceUnit

The Kara Strait: Russia’s Hormuz trap for Europe

The Memorandum | No. 19.2026

britainsworld.org.uk

‘A reminder that whatever the external perceptions of the government in office, the Royals’ unique appeal creates an affinity for 🇬🇧 that can be used to national advantage,’ argues @rgwhitman.bsky.social, @kent.ac.uk #BigAsk #BritainsWorld

Did the King’s visit to America reaffirm the importance of soft power?

The Big Ask | No. 16.2026

britainsworld.org.uk

‘A stronger 🇬🇧 defence posture, particularly in the #HighNorth, will be key to preserving the relationship over the long term,’ says Thomas Nurcombe, @britainleads.bsky.social #BigAsk #BritainsWorld

Did the King’s visit to America reaffirm the importance of soft power?

The Big Ask | No. 16.2026

britainsworld.org.uk

‘From a geoeconomic perspective, the symbolic soft power performance contrasts with prospective decline for both states,’ writes Dr Ksenia Kirkham, @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social #BigAsk #BritainsWorld

Did the King’s visit to America reaffirm the importance of soft power?

The Big Ask | No. 16.2026

britainsworld.org.uk

‘His Majesty successfully provided ideological resonance across the political spectrum, which is beneficial to the cultivation of soft power,’ argues @vckeating.bsky.social, @cwswarstudies.bsky.social #BigAsk #BritainsWorld

Did the King’s visit to America reaffirm the importance of soft power?

The Big Ask | No. 16.2026

britainsworld.org.uk

‘Too much emphasis is placed on #softpower; states act out of national self-interest (even 🇺🇸, and well before Trump became President), not simply because they like a counterpart,’ says @joshuachuminski.bsky.social, our International Fellow #BigAsk #BritainsWorld

Did the King’s visit to America reaffirm the importance of soft power?

The Big Ask | No. 16.2026

britainsworld.org.uk

‘Soft power, including that of the royals, should be recognised as a key part of the full 🇬🇧 diplomatic toolkit, which should be utilised alongside a wide range of other levers,’ writes @evieaspinall.bsky.social, @bfpg.bsky.social #BigAsk #BritainsWorld

Did the King’s visit to America reaffirm the importance of soft power?

The Big Ask | No. 16.2026

britainsworld.org.uk

Did the King’s visit to America reaffirm the importance of soft power? We asked 6 experts in today’s #BigAsk ✍️ @evieaspinall.bsky.social, @joshuachuminski.bsky.social, @vckeating.bsky.social, Dr Ksenia Kirkham, Thomas Nurcombe, @rgwhitman.bsky.social #BritainsWorld

Did the King’s visit to America reaffirm the importance of soft power?

The Big Ask | No. 16.2026

britainsworld.org.uk

🇺🇸 and Europe have sleepwalked into a profound dependency on 🇨🇳 for #antibiotics Our #Report with the Coalition for a Prosperous America reveals 🇨🇳 controls 80-90% of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), leaving our antibiotic supply critically vulnerable 💊 🔗 bit.ly/4uu30q3

Europe and 🇺🇸 rely on 7 factories for penicillin ingredients - 5 are in 🇨🇳 Andrew Rechenberg unpacks how one one factory shut down or geopolitical dispute could cripple our hospitals Read our #Report in collaboration with the Coalition for a Prosperous America, here: bit.ly/48vovyj

90% of the active ingredients for our essential antibiotics come from a single source: 🇨🇳 🎬 Andrew Rechenberg breaks down the fragility of our antibiotic supply chain 👇 🔗 Explore the policy roadmap to rebuild allied antibiotic production: www.geostrategy.org.uk/research/for...

Antibiotics are as vital to national security as fuel or munitions 💊 Yet, 🇺🇸 and Europe rely on 🇨🇳 for 90% of antibiotic active ingredients! The new #Report by Andrew Rechenberg, in collaboration with the Coalition for a Prosperous America, unpacks this systemic vulnerability 👇

Foreign control of antibiotic supply: American and European import reliance and systemic vulnerabilities – Council on Geostrategy

Andrew Rechenberg describes how American and European antibiotic supply chains are dependent on Chinese and Indian manufacturing.

geostrategy.org.uk

🇬🇧 post Cold-War era #nuclear posture is no longer enough. To maintain deterrence, 🇬🇧 must urgently rethink its approach. Read the latest #Report by @willfreer.bsky.social and Peter Watkins CB CBE to find out how HM Gov can rebuild the escalatory ladder 👇

Rebuilding the ladder: Options for boosting Britain’s nuclear posture – Council on Geostrategy

William Freer and Peter Watkins CB CBE explore options for bolstering the United Kingdom’s nuclear capabilities and deterrence posture.

geostrategy.org.uk

Wg. Cdr. Ben Goodwin MBE sets out how HM Government, the British Armed Forces, and investors can best work together to overcome the ‘complex terrain’ of defence investment. #Memorandum #BritainsWorld

Complex terrain: The defence investment landscape

The Memorandum | No. 18.2026

britainsworld.org.uk

‘If we allow ourselves to weaken, we should be under no illusion: the opponents of openness, democracy, and freedom – what 🇬🇧 stands for – will merely grow in strength.’ ➡️ @james-rogers.bsky.social, our Co-founder (Research), reflects on 5 years of the Council on Geostrategy

Five years of the Council on Geostrategy

The Memorandum | Special edition 2026

britainsworld.org.uk

Yesterday, we celebrated our 5 year anniversary with a reception at the FCDO! 👏 Delighted to hear from Neil Wigan OBE, FCDO Director General for Strategy and Delivery, and our Co-founders, Viktorija Starych-Samouliene and @james-rogers.bsky.social. Thank you to everyone who joined our celebration!

The #Tracker - your weekly #ObservingChina newsletter is out now! 💻 Cyber expert warns that 🇬🇧 should brace for more cyberattacks from 🇨🇳 🏥 Medical data of 🇬🇧 citizens listed for sale on 🇨🇳 website 🇯🇵 joins annual military exercises near 🇹🇼 for the first time

More cyber attacks from Beijing to come, says British security chief

Medical data of British citizens listed for sale on Chinese website; China objects to US military overflight access in Indonesia

observingchina.org.uk

Yesterday, we hosted a #GeostrategyForum at The In & Out (Naval and Military Club) We were delighted to be joined by Maj. Gen. J.R.S. Boivin OMM MSC CD, Deputy Commander, Canadian Army, to discuss the Canadian Army’s warfighting transformation and the evolving demands of the defence of 🇨🇦

Yesterday, we hosted a #WhitehallBriefing at the In and Out (Naval and Military Club) We were delighted to be joined by Helen Walker-Fleming, Deputy Head Strategy, National Security Secretariat, to discuss strategic indispensability in a geopolitically volatile era 🌍

Strengthening 🇬🇧-🇩🇪 naval cooperation across #NATO’s northern flank ⚓ Yesterday, we were delighted to partner with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung UK & Ireland to host a timely discussion on how 🇬🇧 and 🇩🇪 can more effectively support their shared maritime interests.

This week, we are proud to celebrate five years of the Council on Geostrategy! 💡 Here is a look at the numbers behind our impact. We look forward to continuing to shape Britain’s strategic ambition in a more competitive geopolitical era over the next five years and beyond!

What has Beijing learnt from the near-closure of the #StraitofHormuz? We asked 5 experts in today’s #Tangram ✍️ @george17.bsky.social, Andrew Yeh, Owen Au, @gracetheodoulou.bsky.social, @willfreer.bsky.social #ObservingChina

What has Beijing learnt from the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz?

The Tangram | No 02.2026

observingchina.org.uk

The true revelation from the crisis is not 🇺🇸 military strength, but 🇨🇳 economic resilience and diplomatic agility ✍️ @james-rogers.bsky.social unpacks how 🇨🇳 has leveraged the standoff in the #StraitofHormuz to its advantage, and what lessons 🇬🇧 should draw from this @theipaper.com

Trump has just handed China a major win. It shows the UK what to do next

A Middle East blockade was supposed to cripple China's economy. If anything, it's strengthened Beijing’s hand

inews.co.uk

Is 🇬🇧 overly subservient to international law? We asked 7 experts in today’s #BigAsk ✍️ Dr Hillary Briffa, Brig. (rtd.) Rory Copinger-Symes CBE, Deniz Güzel, David Landsman OBE, Dr Timothy Less, Danielle Reeder, The Rt. Hon. Anne-Marie Trevelyan #BritainsWorld

Is Britain overly subservient to international law?

The Big Ask | No. 14.2026

britainsworld.org.uk

While long-term defence partnerships like #AUKUS and #GCAP will deliver significant combat capabilities, we can’t let them distract from the need for deterrence today 🔗 Read the new #Primer by Dr Euan Graham and Patrick Triglavcanin: www.geostrategy.org.... #IndoPacificProject

Evidence from the Council on Geostrategy featured in the Foreign Affairs Committee report on foreign interference ✍️ @gracetheodoulou.bsky.social, our International Fellow, highlighted growing 🇷🇺-🇨🇳 coordination on disinformation and how 🇨🇳 is tailoring disinformation for each target country.

Six training objectives for #AI enabled systems the British Armed Forces should implement immediately 👇 👉 Read the latest analysis for The #Broadside by Dr Robert Johnson, our Honorary Fellow, published in partnership with Capita Plc

Training objectives for AI-enabled war

What should AI-enabled training look like for the British Armed Forces?

thebroadside.org.uk

Long-term defence industrial investments like #AUKUS and #GCAP generate significant combat capabilities, but risk distracting from deterrence today. Read our latest #Primer by Dr Euan Graham and @p-triglavcanin.bsky.social 👇 #IndoPacificProject

Assessing the contribution of defence industrial base collaborations for Britain’s deterrence posture – Council on Geostrategy

Dr Euan Graham and Patrick Triglavcanin assess the impact upon British deterrence of international defence industrial collaborations.

geostrategy.org.uk