Royal Navy submarines have suffered a few mishaps recently, but the country’s Trident programme shows we’re still a potent threat “I think they appreciate our capability. What is obviously important is that they appreciate that it is what it is, which is a credible capability,” the Prime Minister said on Wednesday during a visit to greet the return of HMS Vanguard, after what is believed to have been more than 200 days at sea. But is he correct? Do Vladimir Putin and co actually quake at the thought of the UK’s arsenal being trained on Russian targets? After all, the Royal…

South Africa appeared primarily motivated by economic factors and a desire to preserve its regional prestige, despite lacking the required military capabilities.

Bahrain has successfully launched its first domestically designed and developed satellite, Al-Munther. The project, spearheaded by the National Space Science Agency (NSSA), marks a milestone in the Gulf state’s space ambitions. The 3U CubeSat is the first satellite in the region to integrate artificial intelligence for onboard image processing. Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Aseeri, CEO of the NSSA, told Arab News: “The successful launch of Bahrain’s Al-Munther satellite into orbit marks a major milestone in the kingdom’s space journey. I take immense pride in the achievements of the National Space Science Agency team, who have successfully placed Al-Munther in orbit, paving the way…

Current measures against South Africa are insufficient to alter the country’s hostile treatment of the U.S. Meservey calls for sanctions against ANC officials.

In a previous article, Marching Below Critical Mass, I explained some of the British Army’s problems and how Fighting Power has been allowed to erode over the past 35 years. The publication Government’s Strategic Defence Review 2025 (SDR 25) has been delayed, pending the production of a new National Security Strategy. In light of the delay, there is an opportunity to examine what the ideal Land Force of tomorrow should look like. Change If you ask most military experts about modern battlefield tactics, they will tell you that whilst the nature of war has not changed (a contest of wills that is both violent…

Military chiefs from more than 30 countries will meet in the United Kingdom this week to establish the scope and scale of a ceasefire enforcement mission in Ukraine. The meeting comes two weeks after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that a “coalition of the willing” would work on a peace plan to present to United States President Donald Trump. Any peacekeeping force sent into Ukraine will need to have real “deterrence value”, according to one military source. The source added: “We are talking about a force of around 50,000 to 100,000 personnel, powerful enough to make Russia think twice…

In the shadow of Europe’s largest war since World War II, a remarkable healthcare initiative is giving wounded Ukrainian soldiers and civilians new hope. The Superhumans Center in Lviv, Ukraine, is revolutionising care for those who have lost limbs, suffered facial trauma, or experienced hearing loss during Russia’s full-scale invasion. National Security News spoke with Olga Rudneva, Co-founder and CEO of Superhumans Center, about the organisation’s critical work, the staggering human cost of the war, and how her own displacement shaped her mission to help others. From personal loss to national mission “When the full-scale invasion started, I used to say…

If the US imposes tariffs on South African vehicle exports, agricultural products, or other measures, “the rand will tank, inflation will rise, [and] we will have to respond with higher interest rates. There’s nothing that impoverishes a middle class like high interest rates, says Dr. Piet Croukamp.

A significant driver of Trump’s doctrine is China’s growing economic power and its increasing competency in technology according to political analyst Dr. Piet Croukamp

The deployment of South African troops in the DRC was “a total disaster and totally unsustainable,” according to defence analyst Kobus Marais.

The US is expected to warn the Kremlin that it will “arm Ukraine to the teeth” if Russia does not accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire, British security sources have claimed. The move comes after Ukraine said it was ready to accept a temporary 30-day ceasefire with Russia, proposed by the US after talks in Saudi Arabia. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would present the offer to Russia and that “the ball is in their court” — Moscow is yet to publicly comment on the issue. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was now up to the US…

The United Kingdom has officially become the third member of a security framework with the United States and Bahrain to help create long-term stability in the Middle East. The UK government is now part of the US-Bahrain Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA). The agreement builds on the strong security relationship between the US and Bahrain, which dates back several years. According to the British government, C-SIPA facilitates defence and security cooperation between the Parties, aiming to enhance regional security integration and prosperity by bolstering mutual deterrence. The agreement also includes commitments to cooperation on economic, trade, and investment…

British defence chiefs have ruled that any person who works for – or is a proxy of – the Iranian state will have to register their presence in the UK or face arrest. The British government announced it was subjecting Tehran to an elevated tier of scrutiny in light of what it described as increasingly aggressive activity. Security Minister Dan Jarvis said he would place Iran’s state, the Islamic Republic’s security services, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps into the enhanced tier of an upcoming registration scheme designed to protect against covert foreign influence. The ruling means that any members…

Professor Cammaerts cautions that history has taught us that if you prepare for war to achieve peace, you get war.

South Africa should adopt a neutral stance in the escalating maritime geopolitical environment and follow the example of India and Brazil, which are core members of BRICS but ‘are playing both sides very nicely.’

One of Britain’s most senior intelligence chiefs has questioned whether the US could be trusted to protect European states if they were attacked by Russia. Sir John Sawers, a former head of MI6—also known as “C”—said central European states should “question” whether the US would enact Article 5 of the NATO Treaty in the event of an attack by Russia. Article 5 of the treaty states that if a member country is attacked, all other members will come to its defence. Sir John, who served as “C” from 2009 to 2014, also said that the humiliation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy…

The United Kingdom and Europe will be dependent on US military support for many years, a former head of the British armed forces has claimed. General, The Lord David Richards, a former chief of the defence staff, said the decision to raise defence spending over the next two years was a sound strategic move, but one that “almost certainly would not” be happening if it were not for US President Donald Trump placing pressure on Nato countries. His comments follow the announcement by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that the UK would reallocate aid funds to boost military spending to…

If US policymakers truly seek to pursue their national interests and counter China in Africa, they must rethink their approach—before the damage becomes irreversible.

Ramaphosa’s government should “swallow their pride and start negotiations with Rwanda and the M23 rebels for their release. “It must be humiliating for our soldiers, and their well-being should be the government’s priority.”

By Ed Arnold | RUSI This week the UK prime minister will head to Washington to try to become a bridge between President Donald Trump and Europe. If he is to have any chance of succeeding, he will need to be bold.In 2022, Russia shattered the post-war European security order with its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The shock of Putin’s aggression and brutality immediately reinvigorated a Euro-Atlantic alliance that had just failed in its most ambitious operation in Afghanistan and had been accused by French President Emmanuel Macron of experiencing ‘brain death’. Russia became an international pariah, NATO gained two new members, and…

“It is concerning when our technology is being used by Iran, as there are arms control measures in place to prevent it,” Iran appears to have a tight grip on South Africa.

South Africa’s current involvement in the DRC is “deeply irresponsible, pretending to be a regional power on what is essentially an overgrown border guard budget.”

The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has announced that he is prepared to send thousands of British troops to Ukraine to act as peacekeepers. In all likelihood, Britain will be just one part of a multinational European force numbering up to 100,000 personnel, but possibly many more. Inevitably, some European nations may be unwilling to participate – Germany and Poland are reported to have voiced concerns about a European troop deployment. This is not surprising, and any deployment will more than likely have to overcome significant domestic political hurdles before each member state can offer up troops and equipment. In…

Helmoed Heitman said although the country may do “a lot of dumb things, it isn’t quite stupid enough to exchange nuclear technology with Iran.”