Research Handbook on #Cyberwarfare is out today! | Edited by @tcstvns & me, with 23 chapters from an outstanding group of contributors, covering the theory, practice, governance, actors & institutions involved in #cyberwarfare @warstudies @ElgarPublishing

A small detail in the National Security Strategy (h/t Andrew Neal): it refers to the Strategic Security Review, which is, I think, something the government started to talk about in March. I think this is a re-styling of the Home Office "security sprints" of 2024. Is that right?.

If all NS strategies balance security, values and prosperity, then NSS 2025 definitely emphasises security and prosperity. It is clearly intended as an intervention to elevate the sense of national urgency. The question now is how that urgency translates into execution.

I think, if you read UK NSS documents from 2008 onwards, NSS 2025 is the culmination of a growing sense of urgency & focus in needing to respond to "radical uncertainty" in international security. It conveys this as well as any has, building on the Integrated Review.

As a minor aside, I would have made the NCF para in Pillar III follow immediately after para 15 on the agencies. It feels a bit incongruous for NCF to follow the para (17) on the Soft Power Council.

A niche point for cyber watchers: the NSS refers to the National Cyber Force conducting "responsible cyber operations". No mention of "cyber power" in any of its forms. Has this been quietly retired?.

Followed by: "We remain committed to returning to spending 0.7% of GNI on development when fiscal circumstances allow". The NSS cites ways to mitigate the aid cut, but it's a sharp juxtaposition of the strategic analysis and the tight resource constraints.

One striking question is whether the government can allocate sufficient resources to breathe life into the lines of effort it endorses. Perhaps nowhere more so than in its reference to the ways in which development aid supports national strategy. .

Overall, a very clear explanation of the principles underpinning this government's world view - lots of continuity with previous strategies, but some interesting points of difference in tone/emphasis.

"Our territorial security therefore begins at sea – from our ability to stop criminal gangs and deter hostile states to the import of food and energy supplies." I think this will elicit an approving nod from @alessionaval.

NSS is aware of its role as an instance of strategic communication, "building greater public awareness of the threats we face, outlined in the Strategic Context that follows, and builds towards a new social contract between government and the British people".

"Our highly skilled and admired diplomatic presence across the globe, with deep expertise in multilateralism, development and conflict resolution, helps us tackle challenges such as emerging security crises or mass migration." Implicitly underlines need to properly fund the FCDO.

An interesting phrase: "We will need to be more unapologetic and systematic in pursuit of our national interests." Most strategies stress the need for the system to work better, but the use of "unapologetic" is elusive - how would a less apologetic UK differ from recent practice?.

You can read it here:

The new UK national security strategy is now online. Entitled "National Security Strategy 2025: Security for the British People in a Dangerous World".

For further reading, see this paper on India's cyber statecraft I co-wrote with Arthur Laudrain for @CEIPTechProgram

Link to piece is here. I was discussing this very question yesterday with colleagues, more from the starting point of: "why haven't we seen more cyber operations" from India?" We thought restraint, limited options, maybe holding some effects in reserve.

An interesting perspective today from the authoritative @SameerP_IND for @RUSI_org on India-Pakistan cyber rivalry in the context of Op Sindoor. The piece contrasts restrained and largely defensive Indian activity with a reported spike in Pakistan-originated cyber threats.

Alastair Campbell on the undermining of the post-war rules-based order. Not something I expected to read today. Whatever about the rest of it, I agree there's a strong argument to shield the UK from this attack, should Trump ultimately decide to do it.

This was an enjoyable discussion today on geopolitical competition in emerging & disruptive technologies, including researchers, students, & practitioners in public & private sectors. Thanks to everyone who made the event a success @warstudies @wmwgc @Carnegie_Europe @ccdcoe.

RT @freeman_air: 📢 If you missed today’s webinar ‘Defence In Review: shaping the future of Air & Space Power, you can now catch up online.….