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:
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.
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.
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.