Executive summary
- Since the end of the Cold War, the United Kingdom’s (UK) nuclear deterrent has been reduced to a ‘barebones’ level. This has left Britain unprepared to respond effectively to provocation by nuclear adversaries in an increasingly volatile world.
- Meanwhile, the British Armed Forces have resumed a number of commitments to deny Russia access to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO) territory in Northern and Eastern Europe – known as ‘tripwire’ forces.
- To deter adversaries more effectively, the UK should move towards a ‘cobweb’ deterrence strategy, merging its existing posture with new measures – such as sub-strategic nuclear forces – to reduce the ability of adversaries to exploit gaps in the escalatory ladder.
About the author
Robert Clark is a Visiting Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy and a Research Fellow at the Yorktown Institute. Prior to this, he held numerous research and policy related positions, including Director of Defence and Security at Civitas, and Head of Public Affairs at the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation. He has contributed to the NATO Defence College, writes regularly for The Telegraph and appears on Sky News as a defence commentator. He also served in the British Army for ten years.
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: RAF AND USAF TEST ABILITY TO DISPERSE AND OPERATE ACROSS THE UK, Cpl. Ben Mayfield RAF, UK Ministry of Defence © Crown copyright 2024
No. 2025/22| ISBN: 978-1-917893-11-4