Balancing UK-US-European defence initiatives

At the operational level, the UK-US relationship is one of, if not the, deepest and most functional between any two allies. Forged in the geopolitical contests of the 20th century against mutual threats of continental hegemons, the ‘special relationship’ has served the shared interests of both countries. But this relationship is changing. Britain’s and America’s interests are no longer as closely aligned, and at the strategic level, the bilateral relationship is often taken for granted and therefore insufficiently explored. The Council on Geostrategy, in partnership with Lockheed Martin UK, will convene a series of strategic forums dedicated to exploring key geostrategic issues related to the special relationship to help bridge this growing gap.

The fourth UK-US Strategic Forum will examine recent developments in European Union (EU) defence industrial policy and programmes. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, spurred on by concerns from some European capitals on US defence priorities, and given impetus by the findings of the Draghi Report, the EU is taking a much more active role in the defence industrial landscape of the Euro-Atlantic. Several initiatives have been designed with barriers in mind to push for greater ‘European strategic autonomy’. The session will explore to what extent and in what areas the UK should seek to strike a balance between engaging with the EU and US in defence industrial collaboration.

Lord Coaker

Minister of State for Defence

Lord Coaker is the Minister of State for Defence in the House of Lords, a position he has held since July 2024. He is responsible for international relations, diplomacy and House of Lords parliamentary business. His additional portfolio responsibilities include security and resilience, health and safety, and honours and awards. Previously, Lord Coaker served as Minister for Policing, Crime and Security (2008-2009), and for Schools and Learning (2009-2010), as well as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence (2013-2015) and for Northern Ireland (2011-2013; 2015-2016) before he joined the House of Lords as a Life Peer in 2021. He previously worked as a teacher before being elected as a Member of Parliament in 1997.

For further information about the UK-US Strategic Forum, please email Lena Stein, Project Manager, at: [email protected].