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The Strategic Defence Review, Britain and sea power

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Executive summary

  • Similarly to the previous administration, the new Labour government has pledged to embrace a ‘North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)-first’ defence posture. A Strategic Defence Review is now underway to reappraise and determine the shape of the United Kingdom’s (UK) future defences.
  • Given British dependence on the sea for economic growth and prosperity, as well as the Net Zero agenda, the sea power remains central to the national effort. Britain is situated at the centre of the Euro-Atlantic world, a perspective it should embrace and promote.
  • As it looks to boost investment in defence to 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and move towards greater integration between the armed forces, the new government should place sea power at the heart of its agenda. The Council on Geostrategy is delighted to aid such thinking with the founding of its Sea Power Laboratory.
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About the authors

Dr Emma Salisbury is Sea Power Research Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy.

James Rogers is Co-founder and Director of Research at the Council on Geostrategy.

Disclaimer

This publication should not be considered in any way to constitute advice. It is for knowledge and educational purposes only. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Council on Geostrategy or the views of its Advisory Council.

Image credit: Type 26 Frigate HMS Cardiff on the move, LPhot Stuart Dickson (Open Government Licence)

No. 2024/35 | ISBN: 978-1-914441-89-9

James Rogers is Co-president and Director of Research at the Council on Geostrategy, where he specialises in geopolitics and British strategic policy. He is also Editor of Britain’s World, the Council on Geostrategy’s online magazine. Previously, he held positions at the Henry Jackson Society, the Baltic Defence College, RAND Europe, and the European Union Institute for Security Studies.

His commentary has been carried in the global media and he has been invited to give oral evidence at the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and International Development committees in the Houses of Parliament. His research has been cited and endorsed by the serving British prime minister, and he has worked on research projects for the British and French ministries of defence. He holds an MPhil in Contemporary European Studies from the University of Cambridge and an award-winning BSc Econ (Hons) in International Politics and Strategic Studies from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Main areas of expertise: Naval operations and strategy, military innovation, defence-industrial base, procurement, British and American defence policy.

Dr Emma Salisbury is an Associate Fellow at the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre, a senior staffer for a Member of Parliament and a Contributing Editor at War on the Rocks. She holds a PhD and MSc from Birkbeck, University of London and an MA from Christ Church College, University of Oxford.