Mark Sedwill

Crossbench Peer | IISS Chair | Strategic Adviser | Former Cabinet Secretary and National Security Adviser |

[Dominic Hauschild @domhauschild]

We cannot let these attacks wipe out Ukraine's educational resources. That is why The Sunday Times is incredibly proud to partner with @Book_Aid for the our Get Ukraine Reading appeal.

They are working on the ground to get brand-new books back into the hands of students and restock the libraries whose shelves were destroyed.

Every £2 donated sends another brand-new book to a Ukrainian child or library.

Please consider supporting the appeal and sharing this thread to help us rebuild what has been lost:

https://t.co/d7066m9ruj

[Atlantic Future Forum @FutureAtlantic]

As we prepare for AFF26 in Oslo next month, @StephenWatson39 discusses the format and likely impact of the Forum with AFF Chair, @marksedwill

[BBC Radio 4 Today @BBCr4today]

Could Taiwan be a flash point for future tension between the US and China?

Xi Jinping has urged President Trump to take the "correct position" on the self-governing island which Beijing claims as its own.

But the US is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.

Mark Sedwill, former National Security Adviser, tells #R4Today that China is likely to continue to exert pressure.

[Atlantic Future Forum @FutureAtlantic]

We’re delighted to welcome the @FinancialTimes as our Media Partner for AFF26.

The FT will help shape and amplify the Forum’s content programme, with a special edition of the Political Fix podcast, hosted by @LOS_Fisher, also to be recorded on board HMS Prince of Wales.

[Mark Sedwill @marksedwill]

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 👇

https://t.co/xnJH8UBkAv

[Atlantic Future Forum @FutureAtlantic]

As we count down to AFF26 in Oslo, Lord @marksedwill reflects on our ties with Norway and the importance of taking AFF to the High-North.

[Lord Speaker @LordSpeaker]

A pleasure for me to introduce Gen David Petraeus to deliver the @LordSpeaker's lecture.

At this critical time in our history, the future isn't something that simply happens to us; it's shaped by choices, alliances, leadership. David understands that very well.

My thoughts:

[Lord Speaker @LordSpeaker]

Former @CIA director and 4-star US Army General David Petraeus delivered a compelling @LordSpeaker's lecture @UKHouseofLords on defence & national security.

His military leadership & experience at the very highest levels of 🇺🇸 intelligence offer important lessons for us all.

[Lord Speaker @LordSpeaker]

🗣️The extraordinary relationship between the @CIA, @NSAGov, MI5, #MI6 and @GCHQ is one of the West's greatest enduring strategic advantages.

Former @USArmy General and ex-CIA director David Petraeus speaking @UKHouseofLords

[Mark Sedwill @marksedwill]

@DerekBrowning2 Remember it well. You have fulfilled all our hopes and prayers on that day … and more.

[The Economist @TheEconomist]

Britain’s next leader is right that much of Labour’s agenda can be driven “more agile governance closer to communities”, writes Mark Sedwill, a former cabinet secretary. “But conventional devolution of powers and budgets will not cut it” https://t.co/nc84bY7OaK

Illustration: Dan Williams

[Mark Sedwill @marksedwill]

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 👇

https://t.co/6yaEcRi0Uo

[BBC Politics @BBCPolitics]

I see the current defence investment plans "falling well short of what is required", former defence secretary John Healey tells the Commons

https://t.co/jMqtSoaL42

[Mark Sedwill @marksedwill]

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.
https://t.co/gqeL0aG5uo
#UKDefence #NATO

[Michael Gove @michaelgove]

He’s right

[Robert Fox @robfox45]

I think we are all pointing in the same direction . Integrated force not balanced forces. Redundancy in order to confront what is coming up (quantum , a resort to exotics like bio and chemical and genetic) it would be good to get round a table and discuss everything , such as carrier strike,CASD, reserve forces . Get it across something CAN be done as well as needs to be done.

[Mark Sedwill @marksedwill]

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.

[Robert Fox @robfox45]

Really on point on the Today programme : integrated force not balanced force - will they do it ? Need to articulate a set of priorities and then carry them out - fast !

[Mark Sedwill @marksedwill]

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.

[Mark Sedwill @marksedwill]

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

[Mark Sedwill @marksedwill]

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

[Mark Sedwill @marksedwill]

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:

https://t.co/myC0TmdwIK

[John Healey @JohnHealey_MP]

My letter to the Prime Minister