Crossbench Peer | IISS Chair | Strategic Adviser | Former Cabinet Secretary and National Security Adviser |
London
Joined November 2010
- Tweets1.7K
- Following518
- Followers15.6K
- Likes122
Opening @FutureAtlantic aboard HMS Prince of Wales in Oslo 👇
NATO is a defensive alliance, but effective deterrence means presenting adversaries with dilemmas, not just defending against them.
🚨 The UK and its NATO allies should consider going “on the offensive” to defend against Russia - put pressure on the Kremlin, cause them a dilemma and create jeopardy - rather than leaving the initiative with Moscow and defending against whatever Russia does, Lord Mark Sedwill, a former Cabinet Secretary and long-serving UK National Security Adviser, has said.
He said this could be done by using conventional or hybrid defences.
Lord Sedwill, a highly regarded and leading voice in the security community, was speaking on the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier in Norway at the opening of a conference attended by serving military chiefs and ministers as well as members of the defence industry from across Europe and beyond.
Lord Sedwill posed three questions for the attendees.
Firstly, how can the UK and its allies defend effectively the North Sea and the North Atlantic - Britain’s “frontline” with Russia?
Secondly, how can allies defend against Russian, Iranian and other hostile grey zone attacks such as cyber hacks, assassinations and hoax bomb threats?
But his third point was the most strident.
Here is what Lord Sedwill said at the Atlantic Future Forum:
“This is something I really do want to emphasise. It is not just about defence.
“NATO is a defensive alliance but the most effective form of defence is often to cause a dilemma, it is often to go on the offensive against our adversaries.
“So how can we present our Russian adversaries in particular with a set of strategic dilemmas?
“How do we make them feel they are under threat? Not simply leave the initiative to them and defend against it.
“That is true whether we are talking about land, sea and air but it is also true if we are talking about the hybrid space, space, cyber space and indeed in the information space as well.
“I hope we can think that through as well.
“How - whether it is in conventional defence or in hybrid defence - can we put some pressure on the Russians?
“Because deterrence requires not just effective defence, it does require there to be some jeopardy to our adversaries in continuing to probe us.”
America’s voters have passed judgement on Trump’s second term. What does it mean for Britain and our allies?
Much of the America First agenda will outlast Trump. We'll still see a shift towards the Pacific, wariness of foreign wars, an economic model built on protectionism and deficits. But some of it won’t, starting with his approach to Russia.
For allies, I’d suggest three things. Hold your nerve, reach beyond the Oval Office to the rest of the American system, and become collectively more self-reliant. Mark Carney is right that if middle powers aren’t at the table, they’re on the menu, but he left out three words: “as American allies."
More from me in @politicshome today 👇
politicshome.com/opinion/art…
Whether Europe can turn the money it has now promised into forces was the question that hung over Prague last week at the @IISS_org Defence Summit.
The money argument is settled. European defence spending has nearly doubled in recent years, and the procurement mix has improved - up from a quarter to 36% of budgets. Several nations now outpace Britain.
The real problem is fragmentation. Europe deploys roughly 5x as many military systems as the United States. Without proper integration - in command, industry and doctrine - we get less bang for every taxpayer buck or euro or pound.
There's also a political task. The relationship between citizen and state is shifting back toward shared resilience and defence responsibility. Most Europeans haven't caught up, because most politicians haven't made the case. In a democracy, you win that argument only by making it.
The IISS Strategic Dossier released for the summit measures the gap between current capability and what's required. It's substantial 👇
iiss.org/publications/strate…
I've written in @TheEconomist on why Andy Burnham's first 24 hours will define his premiership.
No10 North may as well be called Manc-a-Lago unless he's serious about real decentralisation 👇
economist.com/by-invitation/…
John Healey’s resignation spotlights the gap between Britain’s defence ambitions and the budget. We can’t do everything everywhere. General Sir Nick Carter and I explain why Dan Jarvis must make hard choices: redesign the force to mobilise via reserves, focus on the northern flank through JEF leadership and protect our global interests.
telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06…
#UKDefence #NATO
Thanks Robert. Jarvis has two weeks until the NATO summit but could set new direction at DefMin meeting this week. Let’s hope he grasps it.
Britain can't sustain a “balanced force” We need integrated forces to protect the North Atlantic and High North against Russian aggression and hold their Arctic bases at risk. Those forces can also deploy to wherever the next Hormuz crisis erupts. It's the only credible strategy in a world where American security guarantees are no longer unconditional.
New DefSec Dan Jarvis might have to live with the budget total Healey and Carns couldn’t accept. But he must rewrite the Defence Investment Plan to transform defence and make the tough choices we need. / 1
NATO as a protected enterprise is finished. US won’t keep the sea lanes open alone. Britain’s answer is expeditionary forces — anchoring NATO’s northern flank and reaching the Gulf and Indo-Pacific. My latest @spectator:
spectator.co.uk/article/mini…
@SW_Help 1536 to Sherborne cancelled. Can I take a GWR train to castle Cary instead.
1
1
1,721
Day 2 of Brother Phil’s charity walk in memory of our late mother. Please support with whatever you can. instagram.com/reel/DZPJxGCMC…
2
588
Brother Phil walks 250 miles June 6-21 (Middlesbrough→Rutland Water) in memory of our mother, raising £10k for St Barnabas Hospice-at-Home. They were everything. Every pound funds nursing care for families facing what we did. Support him: justgiving.com/page/sedders6…
2
4
1,496
So very sad to have learnt of the untimely death of a great friend and colleague, Sir Alex Younger. We were at St Andrews University together, had parallel careers and retired together in autumn 2020. He was an outstanding national security leader. I will miss him terribly. Love and condolences to Sarah and the family.
NATO as a protected enterprise is finished. US won’t keep the sea lanes open alone. Britain’s answer is expeditionary forces — anchoring NATO’s northern flank and reaching the Gulf and Indo-Pacific. My latest @spectator:
spectator.co.uk/article/mini…
Five structural forces. US-China rivalry. Hormuz — the largest energy market disruption in history. Taiwan. And one verdict for business.
afr.com/chanticleer/business… linkedin.com/posts/marksedwi…
447
Olly Robbins acted with the calm integrity and intelligence that have defined his public service. His job was to judge whether #Mandelson’s risks could be mitigated, not tell the PM what he already knew. Starmer should retract his accusations and reinstate him.
Olly Robbins stays civil as he laments how his service got him sacked thetimes.com/uk/politics/art…
My article in The Independent. We need armed forces designed for Global Britain as well as NATO First. That means expeditionary forces operating worldwide but ready to fight in Europe if deterrence fails. But right now we need to sort out the erosion of our existing force an avoid the embarrassment of taking over a week with heroic efforts by the Navy to get one serviceable destroyer en route to the Med. Political commitments must become delivery programmes. Now. Fast.
independent.co.uk/voices/uk-…
As voting closes later today for the next Chancellor of the University of St Andrews, it is truly an honour to be considered for the role.
The University is entering a demanding decade. Funding pressures are real. Global competition is intense. Technology and AI are reshaping teaching and research. Academic freedom requires steady defence in a noisier public climate.
The Chancellor does not run the University. But the ambassadorial role matters to strengthen alumni bonds across generations, support fundraising and partnerships, represent St Andrews credibly at home and overseas, and work with counterparts in other leading universities to protect and promote academic freedom and freedom of speech.
St Andrews transformed my life. I want future generations to have the same experience and opportunities. I have really enjoyed the engagement with alumni, students and academic colleagues during my campaign. If I’m asked to serve as Chancellor, you can count on that same energy and commitment.
Congratulations to @AntoniaRomeoUK. CabSec #15. She will bring dynamism, confidence and a reform agenda to the public service. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3rz…
As voting opens today for the next Chancellor of the University of St Andrews, it is truly an honour to be considered for this role.
St Andrews transformed my life. I arrived here as a state-educated, first-in-family student and found a place of demanding teaching, strong values, broad horizons and a close community. It gave me confidence and judgement that shaped everything that followed.
I am standing because I believe the University is entering a demanding decade. Funding pressures are real. Global competition is intense. Technology and AI are reshaping how we teach and learn. Academic freedom and serious scholarship require active defence in a noisier public climate.
The Chancellor doesn’t run the University. That responsibility rightly rests with the Principal and her team. But the Chancellor can make a difference by representing St Andrews credibly at home and overseas, strengthening alumni bonds across generations, supporting long-term fundraising and partnerships, and being a clear public voice for academic freedom and freedom of speech.
It’s also, I realise, the first time I have stood for election since becoming President of the St Andrews Athletic Union all those years ago. And I‘ve enjoyed every moment of the opportunity to engage across the St Andrews community. I am deeply honoured by the support and encouragement from alumni, students and academic colleagues.
Voting runs from today until Sunday. If you registered to vote, please do take part. I hope I have earned your vote.
Thank you again to everyone who has supported me. If asked to serve, I will do so with energy, enthusiasm and commitment.