My article for today’s Daily Telegraph on the importance of munitions, people, technology…and national self-belief. telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/2…

Listen to historian Timothy Snyder

BREAKING: The UK will increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2030, the prime minister is expected to announce in a hardening of military policy at a time of growing threats.

news.sky.com/story/uk-to-in…

40 years ago today. London. 17th April 1984. Police inspector Alex Fish from Vine Street police station has just briefed a team of officers due to police a demonstration outside the Libyan Peoples Bureau in St James's Square. He decides to walk up to the square to check

The world is at least as dangerous as it was during Falklands War when 🇬🇧 spent circa 4% of GDP on defence. Now half that! A generational change is needed here and cross-party recognition we need to spend national treasure on our security. Thanks Think Defence for graphic.

This is the brutal reality: 🇷🇺 launched no less than eleven ballistic missiles against the large Trypilska 🇺🇦 power station. The first seven were shot down by 🇺🇦 air defence missiles, but then they didn’t have any more. The following four destroyed the power station.

My tribute to NATO on its 75th birthday - from on board a 🇺🇸 warship in Naples harbour close to where I lived as a child, when my father was posted to the nearby NATO base with the Royal Navy. Then there were 15 Allies. Now there are 32. Times change. NATO’s purpose endures.

The ‘common user charge’ which we’ll now all pay for our food wasn’t painted on the side of the Vote Leave Brexit bus. #brexitdividend bbc.co.uk/news/business-…

201 days on patrol is a mighty long time away.

One of the most majestic of the great Transatlantic Liners. She deserves to be saved as a 🇺🇸 icon.

The UK Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, was joined by a NATO Amphibious Task Group and a range of aircraft off the coast of Norway as part of #SteadfastDefender24 .

#WeAreNATO #StrongerTogether

Bring out the Barrel...

For the second time in history #RoyalMarines took part in the historic Ceremony of the Dues at the The Tower of London to mark the start of celebrations marking our 360th anniversary year.

#RM360

Read more: bit.ly/CeremonyoftheD…

Flying continues whatever the weather...🌊🌧💨

#SteadfastDefender24

Proud to be flying the flag today! #SlavaUkraini

BZ to all involved. Impressive to get a second aircraft carrier to sea, fully crewed and ready for a demanding and strategically important deployment in less than a week. RN at its best.

COMUKCSG is now embarked in HMS Prince of Wales for the very first time.

Round-the-clock efforts have allowed us to prepare for #SteadfastDefender2024 , with Wildcat helicopters from 847 Naval Air Squadron arriving before we left HMNB Portsmouth.

Thank you to all who have assisted over the past week.

HMS Prince of Wales is set to sail on Sunday, replacing her sister ship on Exercise Steadfast Defender, Nato's largest exercise since the Cold War.

The carrier is expected to leave Portsmouth at 12.15pm ⏰

A quick top-up from USNS KANAWHA🇺🇲, as DIAMOND 💎 makes a fuel stop. The highly trained and professional Ship's Company worked against 40kt headwinds and concurrent flying, which is degree level RASing! 🥇

On behalf of the whole Royal Navy, I send His Majesty our very best wishes for a full and timely recovery. 

We look forward to the return to public duties of our Lord High Admiral and Captain General and He and His family are in our thoughts.