Jamie Gaskarth
@jamiegaskarth.bsky.social
Prof, Foreign Policy and IR, OU. Writes on British defence, intel and foreign policy. Associate Fellow, Chatham House. Views my own.
If the debacle of #REF2029 guidance teaches anything, it's the utility of red teaming stuff before it enters the public domain. So many contradictions, examples of confusing syntax and basic information missing; on top of which, the old guidance is still up for some reason...
December 19, 2025 at 2:23 PM
If the debacle of #REF2029 guidance teaches anything, it's the utility of red teaming stuff before it enters the public domain. So many contradictions, examples of confusing syntax and basic information missing; on top of which, the old guidance is still up for some reason...
Hey @telegraph.co.uk, u OK hun? Feels like you're not yourself lately....
The Telegraph: now advocates for mutiny.
The enemy within.
The enemy within.
December 18, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Hey @telegraph.co.uk, u OK hun? Feels like you're not yourself lately....
It's a neglected principle of government that if you say something is important, you should make sure you act on it.
Shock.
While No.10 quibbles, the threat grows and our ability to combat it remains diminished.
But defence is apparently a 'top priority' for government....
While No.10 quibbles, the threat grows and our ability to combat it remains diminished.
But defence is apparently a 'top priority' for government....
Defence spending plan delayed over Starmer concerns
New national armaments director insists the paper is in its ‘final stages’
www.ft.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:12 AM
It's a neglected principle of government that if you say something is important, you should make sure you act on it.
A counterpoint might be that we can now prevaricate and the US can 'punish' us by not continuing with stuff that was never gonna happen anyway, or if it did, wasn't going to be meaningful in the long term (7k jobs?! Pfft), rather than hit us somewhere that matters.
Only took three months for the US to weaponize the US-UK Tech deal: "British officials on Monday confirmed the US suspended the deal last week, with one saying the Trump administration was pushing for UK concessions in areas of trade outside the tech partnership."
www.ft.com/content/afd4...
www.ft.com/content/afd4...
US suspends technology deal with the UK
Washington pushes for concessions from London on the broader trade relationship
www.ft.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:53 PM
A counterpoint might be that we can now prevaricate and the US can 'punish' us by not continuing with stuff that was never gonna happen anyway, or if it did, wasn't going to be meaningful in the long term (7k jobs?! Pfft), rather than hit us somewhere that matters.
Reposted by Jamie Gaskarth
Another way to restart the world’s idea machine is to restore funding and grants to universities, researchers, and artists.
America, you have spoken loud and clear: You do not like AI. But what if AI is the way to restart the world’s idea machine?
We’re running out of good ideas. AI might be how we find new ones.
What if the best use of AI is restarting the world’s idea machine?
www.vox.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Another way to restart the world’s idea machine is to restore funding and grants to universities, researchers, and artists.
You know, they're not wrong!
You lot need Dick Van Dyke singing Let's Go Fly a Kite on his 100th birthday more than you know.
December 16, 2025 at 7:37 AM
You know, they're not wrong!
Niall Ferguson is rapidly becoming the Simon Jenkins of geopolitical commentary. His description of India as a US ally really caps off this terrible take...sometimes things really do change, and we need to change with them.
December 13, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Niall Ferguson is rapidly becoming the Simon Jenkins of geopolitical commentary. His description of India as a US ally really caps off this terrible take...sometimes things really do change, and we need to change with them.
Not a credible position for the Labour leadership to take. If they were serious about the threat we face, after 18mths we'd have ramped up our capabilities, have factories and stockpiles in place, people would have been fired and talent brought in to shake up UK defence. Instead, we've tinkered.
This sounds like defensive briefing straight from a Morgan McSweeney Whatsapp group in denial about how an ineffective leader unwilling to face the breakdown of US-Europe relations might not be the best figure to lead the UK into a post-American order
December 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Not a credible position for the Labour leadership to take. If they were serious about the threat we face, after 18mths we'd have ramped up our capabilities, have factories and stockpiles in place, people would have been fired and talent brought in to shake up UK defence. Instead, we've tinkered.
Finding #REF2029 guidelines very confusing. Anyone else? 'decoupling fundamentally separates the contracts used to calculate the volume measure from the specific outputs included in a submission.' But, if you're on a teaching-only contract, you have to get special permission to submit. What gives?
December 10, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Finding #REF2029 guidelines very confusing. Anyone else? 'decoupling fundamentally separates the contracts used to calculate the volume measure from the specific outputs included in a submission.' But, if you're on a teaching-only contract, you have to get special permission to submit. What gives?
Reposted by Jamie Gaskarth
One of the frustrating aspects of Trump's 'peace' efforts is that he resides in an echo chamber that doesn't acknowledge the real difficulties that Russia is facing in continuing its war in Ukraine - and it is an echo chamber that influences media coverage, judging by the questions that I get asked!
Time is not working for Russia, and things will only get worse.
“Putin is very likely preparing to attempt to offset Russia’s near-exhaustion of voluntary recruitment in 2026 by mobilizing elements of Russia’s strategic reserve to sustain combat operations in Ukraine.”
“Putin is very likely preparing to attempt to offset Russia’s near-exhaustion of voluntary recruitment in 2026 by mobilizing elements of Russia’s strategic reserve to sustain combat operations in Ukraine.”
NEW: The Kremlin is significantly intensifying its cognitive warfare effort to present the Russian military and economy as able to inevitably win a war of attrition against Ukraine. 🧵(1/9)
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 9, 2025: isw.pub/UkrUpdate120925
Other Key Takeaways ⬇️
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 9, 2025: isw.pub/UkrUpdate120925
Other Key Takeaways ⬇️
December 10, 2025 at 6:54 AM
One of the frustrating aspects of Trump's 'peace' efforts is that he resides in an echo chamber that doesn't acknowledge the real difficulties that Russia is facing in continuing its war in Ukraine - and it is an echo chamber that influences media coverage, judging by the questions that I get asked!
Great piece.
My assessment of the Trump national security strategy: "it sees the United States’ adversaries as partners in that war, but it does not see how much U.S. power relies on the voluntary assistance of other countries."
The Only War the White House Is Ready for Is Culture War
The new U.S. National Security Strategy is a moral and strategic disaster.
foreignpolicy.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Great piece.
Author of the US National Security Strategy revealed...
December 7, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Author of the US National Security Strategy revealed...
Reading the US National Security Strategy, I feel Freudian analysis might be due a renaissance.
December 5, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Reading the US National Security Strategy, I feel Freudian analysis might be due a renaissance.
True story. I grew up with the Oliver Stone/Rush to Judgment view. Then on a trip to Dallas I read the Warren report and visited the book depository. It's so obvious he did it you realise how much nonsense they had to sprinkle over it to sow doubt.
Today is the 62nd anniversary of JFK being assassinated by a trained marksman firing a close and unobstructed volley of shots at a slow-moving and unprotected car, hitting a target who could not physically move. RIP, President Kennedy.
November 23, 2025 at 6:17 AM
True story. I grew up with the Oliver Stone/Rush to Judgment view. Then on a trip to Dallas I read the Warren report and visited the book depository. It's so obvious he did it you realise how much nonsense they had to sprinkle over it to sow doubt.
Shout out to the linguistic content analysts...
❗️The Guardian: Phrases originally written in Russian found in the American “peace plan”
The document contains several formulations that would sound natural in Russian but appear unnatural and out of place in the English version, clashing with the overall style.
The document contains several formulations that would sound natural in Russian but appear unnatural and out of place in the English version, clashing with the overall style.
November 21, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Shout out to the linguistic content analysts...
Reposted by Jamie Gaskarth
“Can the UK afford to fight a war?” Join this open Chatham House event on
📅 27 November 2025
🕕 6-7PM
Hybrid – In-person (Chatham House, London) & Online
👉 Register via: www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
@jamiegaskarth.bsky.social @gunjans.bsky.social @oliviaosullivan.bsky.social
📅 27 November 2025
🕕 6-7PM
Hybrid – In-person (Chatham House, London) & Online
👉 Register via: www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
@jamiegaskarth.bsky.social @gunjans.bsky.social @oliviaosullivan.bsky.social
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
November 20, 2025 at 12:31 PM
“Can the UK afford to fight a war?” Join this open Chatham House event on
📅 27 November 2025
🕕 6-7PM
Hybrid – In-person (Chatham House, London) & Online
👉 Register via: www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
@jamiegaskarth.bsky.social @gunjans.bsky.social @oliviaosullivan.bsky.social
📅 27 November 2025
🕕 6-7PM
Hybrid – In-person (Chatham House, London) & Online
👉 Register via: www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
@jamiegaskarth.bsky.social @gunjans.bsky.social @oliviaosullivan.bsky.social
Great piece here by Simon...
Me, for @encompasseurope.bsky.social, on why it doesn't serve either side's interests to get bogged down in UK-EU finances as negotiations start on SPS and ETS
@oupolitics.bsky.social
@oupolitics.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Great piece here by Simon...
Booked 3 trips to London this month. Each time the train has been cancelled. Nationalisation can't come soon enough.
November 17, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Booked 3 trips to London this month. Each time the train has been cancelled. Nationalisation can't come soon enough.
Peak Bluesky....it's possible the misuse of asylum has led to this....or do we think Albania suffered a humanitarian catastrophe in 2022/23?!
www.gov.uk/government/s...
www.gov.uk/government/s...
November 15, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Peak Bluesky....it's possible the misuse of asylum has led to this....or do we think Albania suffered a humanitarian catastrophe in 2022/23?!
www.gov.uk/government/s...
www.gov.uk/government/s...
This is just political cowardice. People will forgive anything but weakness in politicians. If true, I'd say their days are numbered.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Rachel Reeves to abandon plans to raise income tax rates in budget
Labour had laid the ground to break a manifesto pledge on taxes for working people but has now made a U-turn
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:59 PM
This is just political cowardice. People will forgive anything but weakness in politicians. If true, I'd say their days are numbered.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
For defence and security types, I'll be talking about whether the UK can afford to fight a war with General Sir Richard Barrons and @oliviaosullivan.bsky.social at Chatham House on 27th November. You can sign up here for online or in person:
www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
Can the UK afford to fight a war?
Assessing the post-budget outlook for Britain’s defence and security commitments.
www.chathamhouse.org
November 10, 2025 at 4:07 PM
For defence and security types, I'll be talking about whether the UK can afford to fight a war with General Sir Richard Barrons and @oliviaosullivan.bsky.social at Chatham House on 27th November. You can sign up here for online or in person:
www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
Reposted by Jamie Gaskarth
Delve deeper into your family tree by finding lost relatives who served in WWI. Ensure their service & sacrifice are never forgotten. Free access until 13th November.
@findmypast.bsky.social findmypast.co.uk.
T&Cs apply
@findmypast.bsky.social findmypast.co.uk.
T&Cs apply
November 7, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Delve deeper into your family tree by finding lost relatives who served in WWI. Ensure their service & sacrifice are never forgotten. Free access until 13th November.
@findmypast.bsky.social findmypast.co.uk.
T&Cs apply
@findmypast.bsky.social findmypast.co.uk.
T&Cs apply
Reposted by Jamie Gaskarth
😮
Norway finds out that its electric busses - produced by a Chinese firm - can be remotely controlled from China!
The good news of this is that the Norwegians realised this because they did a cybersecurity test. We need to think about, and test, stuff like this more.
www.focus.de/panorama/wel...
Norway finds out that its electric busses - produced by a Chinese firm - can be remotely controlled from China!
The good news of this is that the Norwegians realised this because they did a cybersecurity test. We need to think about, and test, stuff like this more.
www.focus.de/panorama/wel...
Norweger stellen fest, dass China 850 ihrer Elektrobusse fernsteuern und sogar stoppen kann
Etwa 850 in Norwegen eingesetzte Elektrobusse können aus China vollständig kontrolliert werden. Das hat ein geheimer Test der öffentlichen Verkehrsbetriebe ergeben.
www.focus.de
November 6, 2025 at 10:43 AM
😮
Norway finds out that its electric busses - produced by a Chinese firm - can be remotely controlled from China!
The good news of this is that the Norwegians realised this because they did a cybersecurity test. We need to think about, and test, stuff like this more.
www.focus.de/panorama/wel...
Norway finds out that its electric busses - produced by a Chinese firm - can be remotely controlled from China!
The good news of this is that the Norwegians realised this because they did a cybersecurity test. We need to think about, and test, stuff like this more.
www.focus.de/panorama/wel...
Watching Homes under the Hammer. Somewhere in this image are a couple of housebuyers. Repost if you see them but no spoilers.
November 5, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Watching Homes under the Hammer. Somewhere in this image are a couple of housebuyers. Repost if you see them but no spoilers.
Reposted by Jamie Gaskarth
I did a lecture on the impact of Brexit on British politics. Watch it here if you're really bored www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztqL...
Reflections on the Brexit Revolution: 2025-26 Mackenzie-Stuart Lecture
YouTube video by Cambridge Law Faculty
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:25 AM
I did a lecture on the impact of Brexit on British politics. Watch it here if you're really bored www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztqL...