Matthew Ford

Saarf-Londoner. Assoc Prof @Forsvarshogsk. Associate @I_W_M. Senior fellow @USF_GNSI. Honary Constultant @Royal_Armouries. Series editor @HurstPublishers

[Matthew Ford @warmatters]

I am very pleased to say,

“La guerra en la era del smartphone: Un nuevo campo de batalla al alcance de nuestras manos” ya está disponible hoy.

29 April 2026
cc: @esferalibros @GreyhoundLitAg @HurstPublishers @MikeDwyerMike @DiegoAfonso_

https://t.co/yP7ujKjIEe

[Matthew Ford @warmatters]

Yeah don’t get cancer. I did that when I was 26. Not the best.

[Matthew Ford @warmatters]

Today ranks up there as being one of the best ever. Certainly from a professional point of view.

Way ahead of cancer which I’d not recommend anyone deal with!

[John Foreman CBE @John_ForemanCBE]

The Royal Navy believes drones and autonomous vessels could transform naval warfare.

But naval history is littered with overconfidence, false starts and expensive dead ends.

My piece for The Spectator on the promise - and risks - of the new 'hybrid navy' 1/4

[Matthew Ford @warmatters]

This is true everywhere

[Shashank Joshi @shashj]

"One thing I have learnt about our gov't is that it is very important to be in the right WhatsApp group" https://t.co/mkaM3HGGU9 (p167)

[Matthew Ford @warmatters]

@HistorianBlood @aljhlester Yeah. Very sorry to read this.

[Ben Judah @b_judah]

Soft polling — yes

No trade offs presented — yes.

But do UK voters know what freedom of movement is when polled — they absolutely do. The British public is way ahead of the politicians on questions of European integration.

I’d be curious to see polling on whether voters prefer Freedom of Movement or a continuation of the post-Brexit wave of migrants from Africa and South Asia.

[Steve Rosenberg @BBCSteveR]

Headline in one of today’s Russian papers: “Russian regions and big business are arming themselves to defend against attacks by Ukrainian drones.” Plus, a newspaper article from last week that has disappeared. #ReadingRussia

[Ben Judah @b_judah]

I actually don’t mind these arguments for Brexit: it is a price worth paying for not being part of a sovereignty system or to have potential greater control over immigration. It’s simply a value judgement where I disagree. What I find irritating are claims about the economic benefits which at 10 years on are transparently untrue.

[Ben Judah @b_judah]

This is a good piece about how Brexit has cost the UK its growth advantage compared to most of our European peers.

[Lucy Fisher @LOS_Fisher]

EXCL: A maker of electronic parts used in UK and other European biometric passports is owned by an investor group led by two Chinese companies that are on a US export restrictions list

w/ Rachel Rees

https://t.co/zPuGE4ex77

[Matthew Ford @warmatters]

@ProfTonyPollard Congratulations Tony! I’ll raise a glass here in Sweden!

[Matthew Ford @warmatters]

I like! Thanks @shashj. Very kind of you to call out my book.

Good luck in your new post. We will miss you in the defence world!

cc @HurstPublishers @esferalibros @MikeDwyerMike @GreyhoundLitAg

[Shashank Joshi @shashj]

Learned a lot from @warmatters's work on digital technology, connectivity and war.
- https://t.co/R3fCiLYPct
- https://t.co/0TqHYSp0f1
- https://t.co/kQxaeHWv2D

[Vali Nasr @vali_nasr]

Threatening to blow up Oman and saying Saudi Arabia and Qatar owe it to the U.S. to join Abraham Accords—for ending a war that he started and failed to defend them against, and may not sign an agreement with Iran unless they join—indicate he feels he is for losing control with Iran. His answer is to crudely pass responsibility to Gulf allies.

[Matthew Ford @warmatters]

@joshuachuminski Maybe the Europeans understand how bad things are from the perspective of European politics more than the WH which despite its strengths (& contrary to most Europeans, i think these are extensive) cant seem to properly interpret how Europe sees Trumpism.

[Matthew Ford @warmatters]

@joshuachuminski It can’t. But just because political necessity demands action doesn’t mean Brits believe British political elites when they say we must spend more on defence.

[Matthew Ford @warmatters]

@Windyweaver

[Matthew Ford @warmatters]

Says bloke consistently wrong about war

[Clash Report @clashreport]

Tony Blair:

I don't believe that President Putin, if the Ukraine war ends, is going to come back and try and invade Europe.

I don't believe that personally, but I understand I may be wrong about it.

[Steve Rosenberg @BBCSteveR]

In today’s Russian papers: “nuclear rhetoric” in the Duma. And a new law that allows the seizure of property from citizens who’ve left the country and “continue to harm Russia” from abroad. #ReadingRussia

[Matthew Ford @warmatters]

Europe where?

[Clash Report @clashreport]

Finland President Alexander Stubb:

If the United States wants to project power in the Middle East — say Iran right now — it has absolutely no chance to operate without European bases.

[Matthew Ford @warmatters]

@joshuachuminski No wonder then that political elites in Western Europe say more must be spent on defence. While their electorates look at the demand as fanciful and ask their governments to spend on welfare and healthcare.

[Matthew Ford @warmatters]

@joshuachuminski Anyone would think it was part of an information op designed to get European NATO to spend more on defence.

& while I agree Europe should spend more, what European publics understand from this mixed messaging is precisely the feedback loop that drives MAGA exceptionalism.