Director, UK in the World programme, Chatham House. Formerly HMG's Open Innovation Team, Cabinet Office, & DFID.
Olivia O'Sullivan
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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. 🧵
One thing to add: this is not just about this govt. Johnson and Sunak made higher defence spending promises too, and never credibly reckoned with paying for them. Dishonesty is persistent in UK defence conversations, as CH's @jamiegaskarth.bsky.social wrote here: www.chathamhouse.org/2026/06/will...
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...
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...
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...
CNN reporting a "regional source" saying there may be some kind of ceasefire deal tonight.
edition.cnn.com/2026/04/07/w...
Will everyone please accordingly update their class takes, which will take effect from 5pm today
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...
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...
