European defence doesn’t just need more money – it needs the right ideas, delivered fast and in partnership.
Chatham House this week published new expert commentary by General Sir Richard Barrons KCB CBE, Co-Chairman of Universal Defence and Security Solutions and Senior Consulting Fellow in its International Security Programme, on how the UK and Germany can – and must – combine strengths to fix weaknesses in European defence.
In the piece, he argues that:
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The UK has set out a genuinely transformative vision through its 2025 Strategic Defence Review – but is struggling to fund and implement change at the pace the threat demands.
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Germany is on track to become Europe’s leading conventional military power in spending terms – yet risks locking in yesterday’s force design without a clear digital-age concept to match.
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European deterrence will be stronger if UK thinking and German spending power are consciously aligned, including through mechanisms such as the Trinity House agreement and new industrial/financial partnerships.
At UDSS, we work with governments, industry and investors to turn this kind of strategic argument into practical defence reform – from SDR design and implementation to defence investment planning and capability transformation.
🔗 Read the full Chatham House comment here:
“The UK and Germany should combine their strengths to address weaknesses in European defence” (General Sir Richard Barrons KCB CBE): https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/11/uk-and-germany-should-combine-their-strengths-address-weaknesses-european-defence
If you’d like to explore how UDSS can support your organisation on European defence cooperation, SDR implementation or defence investment strategy, please contact us at info@universal-defence.com.
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