The UK’s Strategic Defence Review outlines ambitious long-term reforms, but by leveraging its strengths in finance, AI, and commercial shipping, Britain can achieve rapid defence innovation and capability gains without immediate major spending increases, says Julien de Saint-Quentin

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR), published last week, was presented as a ‘transformative’, ‘once-in a generation’ exercise. The recommendations present a blueprint for the future of UK defence, but whether these happen in reality – and if so, when – is dependent on His Majesty’s (HM) Government’s spending commitments.

Britain is preparing to hear the government’s plan for growth, set to be unveiled this week in the Spending Review by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Given the competing priorities facing the government, there is a case for deploying Britain’s unique competitive advantages to achieve rapid results. Behind the eye-catching headlines and figures of the SDR last week, three particular measures have the potential to deliver outcomes, without requiring long-term fiscal........

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