The Council on Geostrategy is an independent non-profit think tank based in Westminster, London, England. It was founded in March 2021 by James Rogers,[1] the director of research, and Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė,[2] the director of strategy. The Council on Geostrategy focuses shaping HM Government's foreign and defence policy in an "international environment characterised by geopolitical competition and environmental crisis".[3] The organisation has research projects spanning the Euro-Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and Polar regions and has a particular focus on naval power.[4][5][6]
Aims and Research
editThe Council on Geostrategy's stated aims are to:
- Explore strategies related to Britain’s resilience, industrial base, diplomatic, and military capabilities.[7]
- Create proposals aimed at supporting a [[free and open international order, in league with the UK’s allies and partners.
- Develop new solutions to environmental degradation which improve Britain's economy through the spread of green technologies.
The Council on Geostrategy has 4 research programmes.
Phones4U founder and philanthropist John Caudwell sponsors the Caudwell Strong Britain research project which focuses on the UK’s science and technology base and progression towards Net Zero.[8] In June 2024, a report, with a foreword by Sir Tony Blair, discussed how Britain can adapt its science and technology infrastructure to respond to the challenges posed by climate change.[9]
The China Observatory, launched in June 2024, monitors the activity of the Chinese Communist Party and offers policy recommendations to the Government. Notable contributors include Charles Parton, Special Advisor to the Foreign Affairs Committee; Bill Hayton, Editor at the Royal Society for Asian Affairs; and George Magnus, Research Associate at the China Centre, Oxford University.
The Indo-Pacific Project, launched in December 2023, publishes on the UK engagement with the region after the Indo-Pacific ‘tilt’ in British foreign policy from the 2021 Integrated Review.[10]
The Strategic Advantage Cell, launched in November 2023, focuses on Britain’s naval power,[11] space capabilities, alliances and technological developments like hypersonic weapons.[12]
The Council also established a trilateral commission in February 2023, publishing on the British-Polish-Ukrainian relationship. In 2024, Secretary of State’s Office of Net Assessment and Challenge commissioned a Point Paper with the Council on Geostrategy ‘calling on the British government to collaborate with allies in providing Ukraine with long-range and advanced weapons’ [13] for the use against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Council on Geostrategy publications include forewords by notable figures including:
- Lord Risby, member of the House of Lords
- Sir Tony Blair, former Prime Minister
- Liz Truss, former Prime Minister
- Sir Michael Fallon, former Secretary of State for Defence
- Alicia Kearns MP for Rutland and Melton, member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee
- Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Minister of Ukraine
- Lord Spellar, member of the House of Lords
- The Lord Hague of Richmond, former Foreign Secretary, and former Leader of the Conservative Party
- Lord David Willetts, member of the House of Lords
- Andrew Bowie, shadow Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Tobias Ellwood, former chair of the Defence Select Committee
- Sir Andrew Wood, former ambassador to the Russian Federation
- Tom Tugendhat MP, former Minister of State for Security
- Alexander Stafford, former MP, and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
Publications
editThe Council on Geostrategy has an online magazine, ‘Britain's World’, which publishes a weekly geopolitical affairs round-up, open briefings with recommendations to the Government and analysis from foreign policy experts.
The Council on Geostrategy runs a podcast in partnership with BAE Systems and ADS Group called ‘Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage’. Each episode features figures with expertise in foreign affairs to discuss geopolitics and defence.
Previous guests include:
- The Rt. Hon. James Heappey MP - Former Minister of State for Armed Forces
- Sir Lawrence Freedman - Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London.
- Baron Robertson of Port Ellen - Former Secretary General of NATO
- Andy Start - Chief Executive Officer of Defence Equipment and Support
First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference
editThe Council on Geostrategy hosted the First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference in 2023 and 2024, with keynote addresses from:
- The Rt. Hon. Grant Shapps MP, former Secretary of State for Defence.[14]
- Rt. Hon. Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific.[15]
- Adm. Sir Ben Key KCB CBE ADC, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff [16]
- Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General, International Maritime Organisation Vice Admiral
- Andrew Paul Burns, CB, OBE, Fleet Commander
- V. Adm. Martin Connell, Second Sea Lord, Royal Navy
- R. Adm. James Parkin CBE, Director of Development, Royal Navy
Events
editThe Council on Geostrategy hosts events to facilitate the debate on key geostrategy issues.[17] The Geostrategy Forum[18] and Whitehall Briefing series are roundtable discussions that feature presentations by a Whitehall official, senior parliamentarians, and naval officers, followed by a question-and-answer session. The Council also hosts public events in the Palace of Westminster, providing a platform for discussion on various political topics.
Other
editThe Council on Geostrategy published a Defence Pledge in April 2024 calling on all political parties to pledge 2.5% spending on defence in their manifesto.[19] The Pledge received 30 signatures from senior Parliamentarians, Committee Chairs, former Defence Secretaries, and former leaders of the British Armed Forces.[20]
References
edit- ^ James Matthew Rogers, GOV.UK.
- ^ Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, GOV.UK.
- ^ "Our Mission". Council on Geostrategy. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Sir Stephen Lovegrove Speech at the Council on Geostrategy Archived 2024-07-13 at the Wayback Machine, GOV.UK, 16 September 2021.
- ^ Royal Navy: First Sea Lord's speech to the Council on Geostrategy, Royal Navy, 19 July 2022.
- ^ Coalition for Global Prosperity: Push and Pull: Will action on the climate address the refugee crisis?, Coalition for Global Prosperity, 20 June 2024.
- ^ "Sir Stephen Lovegrove Speech at the Council on Geostrategy". GOV.UK. 16 September 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ Caudwell, John. "Worry about the start-ups and the SMEs not the wealthy individuals moving abroad, writes John Caudwell". LBC. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Taylor, Russell (24 October 2024). "Science and technology's contribution to the UK economy". House of Lords Libary. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "UK Defence and the Indo-Pacific:Eleventh Report of Session 2022–23". House of Commons Defence Committe. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ West, L (7 August 2024). "Submarines 'crucial' for future of British naval power". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Osborne, T (16 September 2024). "Think Tank: UK Should Consider U.S. Hypersonic Weaponry". Aviation Week. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Allison, G (25 September 2024). "UK urged to lead Ukraine coalition with long-range weapons". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "First Sea Lord's Sea Power conference 2024 - Defence Secretary's address". GOV.UK. 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ "First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference 2024: Minister Trevelyan's keynote speech". GOV.UK. 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ "Sea Power Conference keynote speech". GOV.UK. 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ "Events". Council on Geostrategy. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "UK Parliament: Written evidence, Submission by Professor Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE". parliament. UK. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Haynes, D (2 April 2024). "Ex-military chiefs urge political parties to commit to 2.5% defence spending amid 'gravest threats since Cold News". Sky News. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Defence Investment Campaign". Council on Geostrategy. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)