Council on Geostrategy
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
[edit]The 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 CoG report discussed how Britain can adapt its science and technology infrastructure to respond to the challenges posed by climate change.[9]
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.
Publications
[edit] | This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2024) |
The 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.
First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference
[edit]The 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
[edit]The Council on Geostrategy hosts events to facilitate the debate on key geostrategy issues.[17] The Geostrategy Forum[18] and Whitehall Briefing series are round-table 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.[citation needed]
Other
[edit]The 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Taylor, Russell (24 October 2024). "Science and technology's contribution to the UK economy". House of Lords Library. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ "UK Defence and the Indo-Pacific:Eleventh Report of Session 2022–23". House of Commons Defence Committe. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ West, L (7 August 2024). "Submarines 'crucial' for future of British naval power". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ Osborne, T (16 September 2024). "Think Tank: UK Should Consider U.S. Hypersonic Weaponry". Aviation Week. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ Allison, G (25 September 2024). "UK urged to lead Ukraine coalition with long-range weapons". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "UK Parliament: Written evidence, Submission by Professor Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE". parliament. UK. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Defence Investment Campaign". Council on Geostrategy. Retrieved 1 October 2024.