Olivia O'Sullivan
@oliviaosullivan.bsky.social
Director, UK in the World programme, Chatham House. Formerly HMG's Open Innovation Team, Cabinet Office, & DFID.
Confirming our scoop from last week: Britain, Japan and Italy are bringing Canada in on their project to field a sixth-generation fighter jet by 2035, defense ministers from the nations announced jointly on Tuesday. www.politico.eu/article/cana...
Canada joins British-Italian-Japanese fighter jet project
Ottawa joins Global Combat Air Programme as an observer nation.
politico.eu
Last week at @chathamhouse.org 's annual London Conference we hosted the Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper for a closing keynote - where she expanded on her article for Chatham House's @theworldtoday.org on how Britain navigates a more difficult world - www.chathamhouse.org/publications...
Britain’s place in the new world order
We are facing a storm of geopolitical instability, economic coercion, AI and climate change – and it’s likely to get worse. But by working more closely with Europe and seeking greater cooperation outs...
chathamhouse.org
50 years ago I began work at Chatham House on the future of British foreign policy. Very much enjoyed this conversation with Olivia O’Sullivan who is now also running a Uk foreign policy project at Chatham House.
Chatham House@chathamhouse.org · 2mo agoProfessor @ldfreedman.bsky.social (@warstudieskcl.bsky.social) joined @oliviaosullivan.bsky.social to discuss America’s foreign policy failures and the impact of Margaret Thatcher, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan on his time at Chatham House. Read the full interview for @theworldtoday.org ⤵️
Why can we never get a straight answer about defence spending? Timely and relevant research from @chathamhouse.org UK in the World Associate Fellow @jamiegaskarth.bsky.social along with Maeve Ryan and @anglo-japan45.bsky.social
BJPIR@bjpir.bsky.social · last mo.'Everyone is lying. But everyone has decided we can lie together'. New research reveals how UK defence policy really works - and it's not pretty. Meet the Jellyfish model 🪼 by @jamiegaskarth.bsky.social, Maeve Ryan & @anglo-japan45.bsky.social 🔗 buff.ly/oBPiZGd @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social
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...
Defence Investment Paralysis: Why the UK’s defence minister quit, and what it means
In this week’s episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss the UK’s defence funding crisis and Europe’s struggle to coordinate its rearmament effort.
chathamhouse.org
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...
In Gaza, Sudan and other crisis areas: 'international order is already broken' - UN aid chief
YouTube video by Chatham House
youtube.com
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...
Our evaluation of Claude Mythos Preview’s cyber capabilities | AISI Work
We conducted cyber evaluations of Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Preview and found continued improvement in capture-the-flag (CTF) challenges and significant improvement on multi-step cyber-attack simulati...
aisi.gov.uk
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. 🧵
Helene von Bismarck@helenebismarck.bsky.social · 4mo agoMeanwhile, the usually very discreet Lord Robertson, former NATO Secretary-General, has had enough and accused the British Government and all opposition parties (!) to be complacent about defence. www.ft.com/content/88b1...
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...
Starmer accused of ‘corrosive complacency’ on UK defence by former Nato chief
Lord George Robertson, author of British military review, says premier is not willing to make the necessary investment
ft.com
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...
Live updates: Trump threatens ‘a whole civilization will die tonight’ ahead of his Iran deadline | CNN
Trump’s warning comes ahead of his 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to make a deal, as the US also struck military targets on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island. Follow live news updates.
edition.cnn.com
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...
UK government on verge of full nationalisation of British Steel
Talks with Chinese owner Jingye continue while losses mount
ft.com
Start your day with a very moving lunch with the FT, sensitively told by @edwardluce.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/4c17...
Death row lawyer Bryan Stevenson: ‘Hope is our superpower’
The attorney and activist on overturning capital convictions — and his fears that civil rights gains are being dismantled
ft.com
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:
Bluesky
s.bsky.social
Chatham House@chathamhouse.org · 4mo agoKeir Starmer’s reluctance to strike Iran may prove an important part of his legacy. But it also indicates the UK’s declining ability to influence the US — and project power in the Persian Gulf. Read @cjophillips.bsky.social's (@chmenap.bsky.social) latest analysis for Chatham House ⤵️
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
UK pumps extra funding into BBC World Service as conflicts escalate
Britain said on Thursday it would increase funding for the BBC World Service over the next three years, citing the growing need to provide international audiences with impartial news at a time of conflict and media blackouts around the world.
reut.rs
"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.
How Donald Trump’s Iran War Is Destabilizing the Gulf
Despite their animosity toward Iran, America’s allies in the Middle East are worried that the region is headed for wider conflict.
newyorker.com
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...?
Making it up as they go along
Where does the war in Iran go from here?
open.substack.com
Legal advice re use of UK bases for attacks on Iranian missile bases now published www.gov.uk/government/n...
Summary of the UK Government legal position: The legality of defensive action in respect of Iranian regional attacks
Summary of the UK Government legal position: The legality of defensive action in respect of Iranian regional attacks
gov.uk
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.”
Neutral Ireland seeks closer ties with Nato over maritime security
New Dublin strategy against backdrop of heightened Russia concerns could involve request for UK and French naval assistance
giftarticle.ft.com
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...
Carney constructs a mega anti-Trump trade alliance
The Canadian prime minister is spearheading discussions between the EU and a major Indo-Pacific trade bloc after calling on middle powers to join forces.
politico.eu
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...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
theguardian.com
