chatham house

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack? Audio sseth.drupal@c… 10 July 2026 In this weeks episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, our experts discuss the outcomes of this years NATO summit and what it means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. This years NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trumps return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the transatlantic alliance. What happened in Ankara and what does it mean for NATOs future? If the Ukraine conflict winds down, will Russia pivot to test Article Five? And is Britain doing enough to prepare for a potential conflict?Bronwen Maddox looks at the summit and NATOs future with special guest General Sir Richard Barrons – former Commander of Joint Forces Command in the UK, now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House – plus Dr Marion Messmer, director of our International Security Programme, and Galip Dalay who runs Chatham Houses Turkey Initiative.About Independent ThinkingIndependent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.More ways to listen: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Explore our other Chatham House podcasts.

European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears News release jon.wallace 9 July 2026 Following this weeks Ankara NATO summit, General Sir Richard Barrons told the Chatham House London Conference that European countries must act to re-establish deterrence in the light of US drawdown in Europe. Leading voices from policymaking, business and academia gathered at Chatham Houses 2026 London Conference on 9 July under the theme of a route to order in an evolving world. The event opened with a panel discussing the issues confronting UK defence, the threat from Russia and the war in Ukraine – and strained relations within NATO, following the alliance summit this week in Ankara.Speaking at the conferences opening panel, General Sir Richard Barrons, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House and a co-author of the UKs 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said that the conversation about the US drawdown of commitment to NATO can no longer be abstract.  As a result, he argued, European NATO countries must seek to re-establish a relationship of escalation dominance with Russia – that is a certainty that you deter because you are more powerful. This must be done, he said with far less reliance on the US, inside four years.The UK and NATOSpeaking at the same panel, former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, another co-author of the UKs SDR, said that the Ankara NATO summit was in many ways a great success for its ironclad commitment to Article 5 and to collective security…to get all of the 32 countries, including the United States, to sign up to that is crucially important. — Lord Robertson discusses the UK nuclear deterrent.  He also said that agreements on armaments and support for Ukraine showed that suddenly the spotlight has come back onto Ukraine and the necessity for making sure that we win that.Addressing the UK position within NATO, Lord Robertson said that, although the UK made good progress with the SDR it had lost a year while the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was created, and that the DIP had been greeted with less than rapture by UK allies.  He also discussed the hard choices confronting the UK on defence, making the point that 25 per cent of the UK defence budget is accounted for by the independent nuclear deterrent, which crowds out funding for conventional defence.  Yet, he pointed out I can assure you, as somebody who has been in the Kremlin on a number of occasions, who got to know Vladimir Putin…I can tell you that the British independent nuclear deterrent is the one thing that moves the dial inside the Kremlin.Gaza and the West BankLater in the day, during the closing keynote, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper addressed other important security issues, including policy on the 20-point plan for Gaza negotiated by the Trump administration, and Israeli settler activity in the West Bank.What I fear now is that that 20-point plan is really in danger of just running into the ground, she said. And we dont even have the humanitarian access and support that was pledged as part of phase one of that 20-point plan.Addressing the West Bank, she said: Weve also seen, obviously…the expansion of the illegal settlements in the West Bank and settler violence increasing and what is effectively in many cases, settler terrorism as well. And so therefore it can feel then as if theres a risk now that we are going backwards.

European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears News release jon.wallace 9 July 2026 Following this weeks Ankara NATO summit, General Sir Richard Barrons told the Chatham House London Conference that European countries must act to re-establish deterrence in the light of US drawdown in Europe. Leading voices from policymaking, business and academia gathered at Chatham Houses 2026 London Conference on 9 July under the theme of a route to order in an evolving world. The event opened with a panel discussing the issues confronting UK defence, the threat from Russia and the war in Ukraine – and strained relations within NATO, following the alliance summit this week in Ankara.Speaking at the conferences opening panel, General Sir Richard Barrons, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House and a co-author of the UKs 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said that the conversation about the US drawdown of commitment to NATO can no longer be abstract.  As a result, he argued, European NATO countries must seek to re-establish a relationship of escalation dominance with Russia – that is a certainty that you deter because you are more powerful. This must be done, he said with far less reliance on the US, inside four years.The UK and NATOSpeaking at the same panel, former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, another co-author of the UKs SDR, said that the Ankara NATO summit was in many ways a great success for its ironclad commitment to Article 5 and to collective security…to get all of the 32 countries, including the United States, to sign up to that is crucially important. — Lord Robertson discusses the UK nuclear deterrent.  He also said that agreements on armaments and support for Ukraine showed that suddenly the spotlight has come back onto Ukraine and the necessity for making sure that we win that.Addressing the UK position within NATO, Lord Robertson said that, although the UK made good progress with the SDR it had lost a year while the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was created, and that the DIP had been greeted with less than rapture by UK allies.  He also discussed the hard choices confronting the UK on defence, making the point that 25 per cent of the UK defence budget is accounted for by the independent nuclear deterrent, which crowds out funding for conventional defence.  Yet, he pointed out I can assure you, as somebody who has been in the Kremlin on a number of occasions, who got to know Vladimir Putin…I can tell you that the British independent nuclear deterrent is the one thing that moves the dial inside the Kremlin.Gaza and the West BankLater in the day, during the closing keynote, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper addressed other important security issues, including policy on the 20-point plan for Gaza negotiated by the Trump administration, and Israeli settler activity in the West Bank.What I fear now is that that 20-point plan is really in danger of just running into the ground, she said. And we dont even have the humanitarian access and support that was pledged as part of phase one of that 20-point plan.Addressing the West Bank, she said: Weve also seen, obviously…the expansion of the illegal settlements in the West Bank and settler violence increasing and what is effectively in many cases, settler terrorism as well. And so therefore it can feel then as if theres a risk now that we are going backwards.

European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears News release jon.wallace 9 July 2026 Following this weeks Ankara NATO summit, General Sir Richard Barrons told the Chatham House London Conference that European countries must act to re-establish deterrence in the light of US drawdown in Europe. Leading voices from policymaking, business and academia gathered at Chatham Houses 2026 London Conference on 9 July under the theme of a route to order in an evolving world. The event opened with a panel discussing the issues confronting UK defence, the threat from Russia and the war in Ukraine – and strained relations within NATO, following the alliance summit this week in Ankara.Speaking at the conferences opening panel, General Sir Richard Barrons, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House and a co-author of the UKs 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said that the conversation about the US drawdown of commitment to NATO can no longer be abstract.  As a result, he argued, European NATO countries must seek to re-establish a relationship of escalation dominance with Russia – that is a certainty that you deter because you are more powerful. This must be done, he said with far less reliance on the US, inside four years.The UK and NATOSpeaking at the same panel, former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, another co-author of the UKs SDR, said that the Ankara NATO summit was in many ways a great success for its ironclad commitment to Article 5 and to collective security…to get all of the 32 countries, including the United States, to sign up to that is crucially important. — Lord Robertson discusses the UK nuclear deterrent.  He also said that agreements on armaments and support for Ukraine showed that suddenly the spotlight has come back onto Ukraine and the necessity for making sure that we win that.Addressing the UK position within NATO, Lord Robertson said that, although the UK made good progress with the SDR it had lost a year while the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was created, and that the DIP had been greeted with less than rapture by UK allies.  He also discussed the hard choices confronting the UK on defence, making the point that 25 per cent of the UK defence budget is accounted for by the independent nuclear deterrent, which crowds out funding for conventional defence.  Yet, he pointed out I can assure you, as somebody who has been in the Kremlin on a number of occasions, who got to know Vladimir Putin…I can tell you that the British independent nuclear deterrent is the one thing that moves the dial inside the Kremlin.Gaza and the West BankLater in the day, during the closing keynote, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper addressed other important security issues, including policy on the 20-point plan for Gaza negotiated by the Trump administration, and Israeli settler activity in the West Bank.What I fear now is that that 20-point plan is really in danger of just running into the ground, she said. And we dont even have the humanitarian access and support that was pledged as part of phase one of that 20-point plan.Addressing the West Bank, she said: Weve also seen, obviously…the expansion of the illegal settlements in the West Bank and settler violence increasing and what is effectively in many cases, settler terrorism as well. And so therefore it can feel then as if theres a risk now that we are going backwards.

European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears News release jon.wallace 9 July 2026 Following this weeks Ankara NATO summit, General Sir Richard Barrons told the Chatham House London Conference that European countries must act to re-establish deterrence in the light of US drawdown in Europe. Leading voices from policymaking, business and academia gathered at Chatham Houses 2026 London Conference on 9 July under the theme of a route to order in an evolving world. The event opened with a panel discussing the issues confronting UK defence, the threat from Russia and the war in Ukraine – and strained relations within NATO, following the alliance summit this week in Ankara.Speaking at the conferences opening panel, General Sir Richard Barrons, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House and a co-author of the UKs 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said that the conversation about the US drawdown of commitment to NATO can no longer be abstract.  As a result, he argued, European NATO countries must seek to re-establish a relationship of escalation dominance with Russia – that is a certainty that you deter because you are more powerful. This must be done, he said with far less reliance on the US, inside four years.The UK and NATOSpeaking at the same panel, former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, another co-author of the UKs SDR, said that the Ankara NATO summit was in many ways a great success for its ironclad commitment to Article 5 and to collective security…to get all of the 32 countries, including the United States, to sign up to that is crucially important. — Lord Robertson discusses the UK nuclear deterrent.  He also said that agreements on armaments and support for Ukraine showed that suddenly the spotlight has come back onto Ukraine and the necessity for making sure that we win that.Addressing the UK position within NATO, Lord Robertson said that, although the UK made good progress with the SDR it had lost a year while the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was created, and that the DIP had been greeted with less than rapture by UK allies.  He also discussed the hard choices confronting the UK on defence, making the point that 25 per cent of the UK defence budget is accounted for by the independent nuclear deterrent, which crowds out funding for conventional defence.  Yet, he pointed out I can assure you, as somebody who has been in the Kremlin on a number of occasions, who got to know Vladimir Putin…I can tell you that the British independent nuclear deterrent is the one thing that moves the dial inside the Kremlin.Gaza and the West BankLater in the day, during the closing keynote, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper addressed other important security issues, including policy on the 20-point plan for Gaza negotiated by the Trump administration, and Israeli settler activity in the West Bank.What I fear now is that that 20-point plan is really in danger of just running into the ground, she said. And we dont even have the humanitarian access and support that was pledged as part of phase one of that 20-point plan.Addressing the West Bank, she said: Weve also seen, obviously…the expansion of the illegal settlements in the West Bank and settler violence increasing and what is effectively in many cases, settler terrorism as well. And so therefore it can feel then as if theres a risk now that we are going backwards.

European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears News release jon.wallace 9 July 2026 Following this weeks Ankara NATO summit, General Sir Richard Barrons told the Chatham House London Conference that European countries must act to re-establish deterrence in the light of US drawdown in Europe. Leading voices from policymaking, business and academia gathered at Chatham Houses 2026 London Conference on 9 July under the theme of a route to order in an evolving world. The event opened with a panel discussing the issues confronting UK defence, the threat from Russia and the war in Ukraine – and strained relations within NATO, following the alliance summit this week in Ankara.Speaking at the conferences opening panel, General Sir Richard Barrons, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House and a co-author of the UKs 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said that the conversation about the US drawdown of commitment to NATO can no longer be abstract.  As a result, he argued, European NATO countries must seek to re-establish a relationship of escalation dominance with Russia – that is a certainty that you deter because you are more powerful. This must be done, he said with far less reliance on the US, inside four years.The UK and NATOSpeaking at the same panel, former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, another co-author of the UKs SDR, said that the Ankara NATO summit was in many ways a great success for its ironclad commitment to Article 5 and to collective security…to get all of the 32 countries, including the United States, to sign up to that is crucially important. — Lord Robertson discusses the UK nuclear deterrent.  He also said that agreements on armaments and support for Ukraine showed that suddenly the spotlight has come back onto Ukraine and the necessity for making sure that we win that.Addressing the UK position within NATO, Lord Robertson said that, although the UK made good progress with the SDR it had lost a year while the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was created, and that the DIP had been greeted with less than rapture by UK allies.  He also discussed the hard choices confronting the UK on defence, making the point that 25 per cent of the UK defence budget is accounted for by the independent nuclear deterrent, which crowds out funding for conventional defence.  Yet, he pointed out I can assure you, as somebody who has been in the Kremlin on a number of occasions, who got to know Vladimir Putin…I can tell you that the British independent nuclear deterrent is the one thing that moves the dial inside the Kremlin.Gaza and the West BankLater in the day, during the closing keynote, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper addressed other important security issues, including policy on the 20-point plan for Gaza negotiated by the Trump administration, and Israeli settler activity in the West Bank.What I fear now is that that 20-point plan is really in danger of just running into the ground, she said. And we dont even have the humanitarian access and support that was pledged as part of phase one of that 20-point plan.Addressing the West Bank, she said: Weve also seen, obviously…the expansion of the illegal settlements in the West Bank and settler violence increasing and what is effectively in many cases, settler terrorism as well. And so therefore it can feel then as if theres a risk now that we are going backwards.

European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears News release jon.wallace 9 July 2026 Following this weeks Ankara NATO summit, General Sir Richard Barrons told the Chatham House London Conference that European countries must act to re-establish deterrence in the light of US drawdown in Europe. Leading voices from policymaking, business and academia gathered at Chatham Houses 2026 London Conference on 9 July under the theme of a route to order in an evolving world. The event opened with a panel discussing the issues confronting UK defence, the threat from Russia and the war in Ukraine – and strained relations within NATO, following the alliance summit this week in Ankara.Speaking at the conferences opening panel, General Sir Richard Barrons, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House and a co-author of the UKs 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said that the conversation about the US drawdown of commitment to NATO can no longer be abstract.  As a result, he argued, European NATO countries must seek to re-establish a relationship of escalation dominance with Russia – that is a certainty that you deter because you are more powerful. This must be done, he said with far less reliance on the US, inside four years.The UK and NATOSpeaking at the same panel, former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, another co-author of the UKs SDR, said that the Ankara NATO summit was in many ways a great success for its ironclad commitment to Article 5 and to collective security…to get all of the 32 countries, including the United States, to sign up to that is crucially important. — Lord Robertson discusses the UK nuclear deterrent.  He also said that agreements on armaments and support for Ukraine showed that suddenly the spotlight has come back onto Ukraine and the necessity for making sure that we win that.Addressing the UK position within NATO, Lord Robertson said that, although the UK made good progress with the SDR it had lost a year while the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was created, and that the DIP had been greeted with less than rapture by UK allies.  He also discussed the hard choices confronting the UK on defence, making the point that 25 per cent of the UK defence budget is accounted for by the independent nuclear deterrent, which crowds out funding for conventional defence.  Yet, he pointed out I can assure you, as somebody who has been in the Kremlin on a number of occasions, who got to know Vladimir Putin…I can tell you that the British independent nuclear deterrent is the one thing that moves the dial inside the Kremlin.

European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears News release jon.wallace 9 July 2026 Following this weeks Ankara NATO summit, General Sir Richard Barrons told the Chatham House London Conference that European countries must act to re-establish deterrence in the light of US drawdown in Europe. Leading voices from policymaking, business and academia gathered at Chatham Houses 2026 London Conference on 9 July under the theme of a route to order in an evolving world. The event opened with a panel discussing the issues confronting UK defence, the threat from Russia and the war in Ukraine – and strained relations within NATO, following the alliance summit this week in Ankara.Speaking at the conferences opening panel, General Sir Richard Barrons, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House and a co-author of the UKs 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said that the conversation about the US drawdown of commitment to NATO can no longer be abstract.  As a result, he argued, European NATO countries must seek to re-establish a relationship of escalation dominance with Russia – that is a certainty that you deter because you are more powerful. This must be done, he said with far less reliance on the US, inside four years.The UK and NATOSpeaking at the same panel, former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, another co-author of the UKs SDR, said that the Ankara NATO summit was in many ways a great success for its ironclad commitment to Article 5 and to collective security…to get all of the 32 countries, including the United States, to sign up to that is crucially important. — Lord Robertson discusses the UK nuclear deterrent.  He also said that agreements on armaments and support for Ukraine showed that suddenly the spotlight has come back onto Ukraine and the necessity for making sure that we win that.Addressing the UK position within NATO, Lord Robertson said that, although the UK made good progress with the SDR it had lost a year while the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was created, and that the DIP had been greeted with less than rapture by UK allies.  He also discussed the hard choices confronting the UK on defence, making the point that 25 per cent of the UK defence budget is accounted for by the independent nuclear deterrent, which crowds out funding for conventional defence.  Yet, he pointed out I can assure you, as somebody who has been in the Kremlin on a number of occasions, who got to know Vladimir Putin…I can tell you that the British independent nuclear deterrent is the one thing that moves the dial inside the Kremlin.

European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears News release jon.wallace 9 July 2026 Following this weeks Ankara NATO summit, General Sir Richard Barrons told the Chatham House London Conference that European countries must act to re-establish deterrence in the light of US drawdown in Europe. Leading voices from policymaking, business and academia gathered at Chatham Houses 2026 London Conference on 9 July under the theme of a route to order in an evolving world. The event opened with a panel discussing the issues confronting UK defence, the threat from Russia and the war in Ukraine – and strained relations within NATO, following the alliance summit this week in Ankara.Speaking at the conferences opening panel, General Sir Richard Barrons, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House and a co-author of the UKs 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said that the conversation about the US drawdown of commitment to NATO can no longer be abstract.  As a result, he argued, European NATO countries must seek to re-establish a relationship of escalation dominance with Russia – that is a certainty that you deter because you are more powerful. This must be done, he said with far less reliance on the US, inside four years.The UK and NATOSpeaking at the same panel, former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, another co-author of the UKs SDR, said that the Ankara NATO summit was in many ways a great success for its ironclad commitment to Article 5 and to collective security…to get all of the 32 countries, including the United States, to sign up to that is crucially important. — Lord Robertson discusses the UK nuclear deterrent.  He also said that agreements on armaments and support for Ukraine showed that suddenly the spotlight has come back onto Ukraine and the necessity for making sure that we win that.Addressing the UK position within NATO, Lord Robertson said that, although the UK made good progress with the SDR it had lost a year while the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was created, and that the DIP had been greeted with less than rapture by UK allies.  He also discussed the hard choices confronting the UK on defence, making the point that 25 per cent of the UK defence budget is accounted for by the independent nuclear deterrent, which crowds out funding for conventional defence.  Yet, he pointed out I can assure you, as somebody who has been in the Kremlin on a number of occasions, who got to know Vladimir Putin…I can tell you that the British independent nuclear deterrent is the one thing that moves the dial inside the Kremlin.

European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears News release jon.wallace 9 July 2026 Following this weeks Ankara NATO summit, General Sir Richard Barrons told the Chatham House London Conference that European countries must act to re-establish deterrence in the light of US drawdown in Europe. Leading voices from policymaking, business and academia gathered at Chatham Houses 2026 London Conference on 9 July under the theme of a route to order in an evolving world. The event opened with a panel discussing the issues confronting UK defence, the threat from Russia and the war in Ukraine – and strained relations within NATO, following the alliance summit this week in Ankara.Speaking at the conferences opening panel, General Sir Richard Barrons, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House and a co-author of the UKs 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said that the conversation about the US drawdown of commitment to NATO can no longer be abstract.  As a result, he argued, European NATO countries must seek to re-establish a relationship of escalation dominance with Russia – that is a certainty that you deter because you are more powerful. This must be done, he said with far less reliance on the US, inside four years.The UK and NATOSpeaking at the same panel, former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, another co-author of the UKs SDR, said that the Ankara NATO summit was in many ways a great success for its ironclad commitment to Article 5 and to collective security…to get all of the 32 countries, including the United States, to sign up to that is crucially important. — Lord Robertson discusses the UK nuclear deterrent.  He also said that agreements on armaments and support for Ukraine showed that suddenly the spotlight has come back onto Ukraine and the necessity for making sure that we win that.Addressing the UK position within NATO, Lord Robertson said that, although the UK made good progress with the SDR it had lost a year while the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was created, and that the DIP had been greeted with less than rapture by UK allies.  He also discussed the hard choices confronting the UK on defence, making the point that 25 per cent of the UK defence budget is accounted for by the independent nuclear deterrent, which crowds out funding for conventional defence.  Yet, he pointed out I can assure you, as somebody who has been in the Kremlin on a number of occasions, who got to know Vladimir Putin…I can tell you that the British independent nuclear deterrent is the one thing that moves the dial inside the Kremlin.

European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears News release jon.wallace 9 July 2026 Following this weeks Ankara NATO summit, General Sir Richard Barrons told the Chatham House London Conference that European countries must act to re-establish deterrence in the light of US drawdown in Europe. Leading voices from policymaking, business and academia gathered at Chatham Houses 2026 London Conference on 9 July under the theme of a route to order in an evolving world. The event opened with a panel discussing the issues confronting UK defence, the threat from Russia and the war in Ukraine – and strained relations within NATO, following the alliance summit this week in Ankara.Speaking at the conferences opening panel, General Sir Richard Barrons, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House and a co-author of the UKs 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said that the conversation about the US drawdown of commitment to NATO can no longer be abstract.  As a result, he argued, European NATO countries must seek to re-establish a relationship of escalation dominance with Russia – that is a certainty that you deter because you are more powerful. This must be done, he said with far less reliance on the US, inside four years.The UK and NATOSpeaking at the same panel, former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, another co-author of the UKs SDR, said that the Ankara NATO summit was in many ways a great success for its ironclad commitment to Article 5 and to collective security…to get all of the 32 countries, including the United States, to sign up to that is crucially important. — Lord Robertson discusses the UK nuclear deterrent.  He also said that agreements on armaments and support for Ukraine showed that suddenly the spotlight has come back onto Ukraine and the necessity for making sure that we win that.Addressing the UK position within NATO, Lord Robertson said that, although the UK made good progress with the SDR it had lost a year while the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was created, and that the DIP had been greeted with less than rapture by UK allies.  He also discussed the hard choices confronting the UK on defence, making the point that 25 per cent of the UK defence budget is accounted for by the independent nuclear deterrent, which crowds out funding for conventional defence.  Yet, he pointed out I can assure you, as somebody who has been in the Kremlin on a number of occasions, who got to know Vladimir Putin…I can tell you that the British independent nuclear deterrent is the one thing that moves the dial inside the Kremlin.

European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears News release jon.wallace 9 July 2026 Following this weeks Ankara NATO summit, General Sir Richard Barrons told the Chatham House London Conference that European countries must act to re-establish deterrence in the light of US drawdown in Europe. Leading voices from policymaking, business and academia gathered at Chatham Houses 2026 London Conference on 9 July under the theme of a route to order in an evolving world. The event opened with a panel discussing the issues confronting UK defence, the threat from Russia and the war in Ukraine – and strained relations within NATO, following the alliance summit this week in Ankara.Speaking at the conferences opening panel, General Sir Richard Barrons, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House and a co-author of the UKs 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said that the conversation about the US drawdown of commitment to NATO can no longer be abstract.  As a result, he argued, European NATO countries must seek to re-establish a relationship of escalation dominance with Russia – that is a certainty that you deter because you are more powerful. This must be done, he said with far less reliance on the US, inside four years.The UK and NATOSpeaking at the same panel, former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, another co-author of the UKs SDR, said that the Ankara NATO summit was in many ways a great success for its ironclad commitment to Article 5 and to collective security…to get all of the 32 countries, including the United States, to sign up to that is crucially important. — Lord Robertson discusses the UK nuclear deterrent.  He also said that agreements on armaments and support for Ukraine showed that suddenly the spotlight has come back onto Ukraine and the necessity for making sure that we win that.Addressing the UK position within NATO, Lord Robertson said that, although the UK made good progress with the SDR it had lost a year while the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was created, and that the DIP had been greeted with less than rapture by UK allies.  He also discussed the hard choices confronting the UK on defence, making the point that 25 per cent of the UK defence budget is accounted for by the independent nuclear deterrent, which crowds out funding for conventional defence.  Yet, he pointed out I can assure you, as somebody who has been in the Kremlin on a number of occasions, who got to know Vladimir Putin…I can tell you that the British independent nuclear deterrent is the one thing that moves the dial inside the Kremlin.

European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears News release jon.wallace 9 July 2026 Following this weeks Ankara NATO summit, General Sir Richard Barrons told the Chatham House London Conference that European countries must act to re-establish deterrence in the light of US drawdown in Europe. Leading voices from policymaking, business and academia gathered at Chatham Houses 2026 London Conference on 9 July under the theme of a route to order in an evolving world. The event opened with a panel discussing the issues confronting UK defence, the threat from Russia and the war in Ukraine – and strained relations within NATO, following the alliance summit this week in Ankara.Speaking at the conferences opening panel, General Sir Richard Barrons, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House and a co-author of the UKs 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said that the conversation about the US drawdown of commitment to NATO can no longer be abstract.  As a result, he argued, European NATO countries must seek to re-establish a relationship of escalation dominance with Russia – that is a certainty that you deter because you are more powerful. This must be done, he said with far less reliance on the US, inside four years.The UK and NATOSpeaking at the same panel, former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, another co-author of the UKs SDR, said that the Ankara NATO summit was in many ways a great success for its ironclad commitment to Article 5 and to collective security…to get all of the 32 countries, including the United States, to sign up to that is crucially important. — Lord Robertson discusses the UK nuclear deterrent.  He also said that agreements on armaments and support for Ukraine showed that suddenly the spotlight has come back onto Ukraine and the necessity for making sure that we win that.Addressing the UK position within NATO, Lord Robertson said that, although the UK made good progress with the SDR it had lost a year while the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was created, and that the DIP had been greeted with less than rapture by UK allies.  He also discussed the hard choices confronting the UK on defence, making the point that 25 per cent of the UK defence budget is accounted for by the independent nuclear deterrent, which crowds out funding for conventional defence.  Yet, he pointed out I can assure you, as somebody who has been in the Kremlin on a number of occasions, who got to know Vladimir Putin…I can tell you that the British independent nuclear deterrent is the one thing that moves the dial inside the Kremlin.

European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears European NATO has four years to re-establish escalation dominance over Russia, conference hears News release jon.wallace 9 July 2026 Following this weeks Ankara NATO summit, General Sir Richard Barrons told the Chatham House London Conference that European countries must act to re-establish deterrence in the light of US drawdown in Europe. Leading voices from policymaking, business and academia gathered at Chatham Houses 2026 London Conference on 9 July under the theme of a route to order in an evolving world. The event opened with a panel discussing the issues confronting UK defence, the threat from Russia and the war in Ukraine – and strained relations within NATO, following the alliance summit this week in Ankara.Speaking at the conferences opening panel, General Sir Richard Barrons, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham House and a co-author of the UKs 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said that the conversation about the US drawdown of commitment to NATO can no longer be abstract.  As a result, he argued, European NATO countries must seek to re-establish a relationship of escalation dominance with Russia – that is a certainty that you deter because you are more powerful. This must be done, he said with far less reliance on the US, inside four years.The UK and NATOSpeaking at the same panel, former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, another co-author of the UKs SDR, said that the Ankara NATO summit was in many ways a great success for its ironclad commitment to Article 5 and to collective security…to get all of the 32 countries, including the United States, to sign up to that is crucially important. — Lord Robertson discusses the UK nuclear deterrent.  He also said that agreements on armaments and support for Ukraine showed that suddenly the spotlight has come back onto Ukraine and the necessity for making sure that we win that.Addressing the UK position within NATO, Lord Robertson said that, although the UK made good progress with the SDR it had lost a year while the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was created, and that the DIP had been greeted with less than rapture by UK allies.  He also discussed the hard choices confronting the UK on defence, making the point that 25 per cent of the UK defence budget is accounted for by the independent nuclear deterrent, which crowds out funding for conventional defence.  Yet, he pointed out I can assure you, as somebody who has been in the Kremlin on a number of occasions, who got to know Vladimir Putin…I can tell you that the British independent nuclear deterrent is the one thing that moves the dial inside the Kremlin.