Find out more about Arden's Defence & Security Practice at ardenstrategies.com/services/def...

I served as Minister for Europe at the UK FCDO, responsible for relations with Russia, and as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence for four years.

As Executive Chair of @ardenstrategies.bsky.social I work closely with the Chair of our Defence Practice, former DG of RUSI, Dr Karin von Hippel.

The question is, can the UK learn one of the most important lessons of Ukraine - that the lack of speed, kills.

That’s the real reason why North Korea has deployed forces, Chinese ‘volunteers’ have been captured, and Iran has committed such significant support.

Each of them is learning about the nature of their next conflict by being in Ukraine.

In Ukraine capabilities are being adapted in real time, at a pace that even two years ago wasn’t foreseen. Technology is iterated every week.

We should be in no doubt that our foes are learning every day in Ukraine.

Throughout history, warfare has carried with it a brutal catalyst for innovation. The quest for survival or advantage has always forced nations to push the boundaries of technology and science.

There’s lots to look for in the Review inc:
- Meeting the conventional threat from Russia
- The UK’s role in the South China Sea
- How defence can drive regional industrial strategy
- A UK nuclear deterrent on multiple platforms
- Institutionalising pace re tech planning, procurement and deployment

A future attack on a NATO nation is no longer fanciful. And the US has generated the type of strategic ambiguity on an Article 5 defence of Europe of the sort that had previously been reserved for their deliberate posture on defending Taiwan.