News & Views
The latest news and views in the UK Military Maritime Arena.
Ed. The author’s investigation into the history of maritime strait multilateralism, a pertinent example of the ad hoc nature of sea control resulting from a rules-based vacuum, and the alternatives available to regional powers. A 25 minute read.
Ed. Britain’s maritime rise and fall holds urgent lessons for a United States losing ground to China at sea and in the shipyard. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, August 2026. A 15 minute read.
Ed. Our correspondent questions the Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD) from a perspective of cost and strategic choice for the future of the Submarine Service.
Ed. Originally published in July 2000 [88/3, pg. 204], this far-sighted article took aim at the inherent risk of ‘peace dividend’ logic in the increasingly volatile post-Cold War world, in which missile defence and nuclear proliferation were certain to become strategic concerns. A 15 minute read.
Ed. As firepower and lethality increasingly become central to warfighting doctrine and escalation at sea, the reintroduction of ship and submarine tactical nuclear weapons has been proposed as a means of closing the gap. The author takes the argument for carrier-based nuclear weapons to task. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, July 2026. A 10 minute read.
Ed. This article explores some of the undiscussed issues and challenges facing the introduction of large-scale autonomous vessels under the ‘hybrid navy’ plan. The aim of this article is not to nay say and stick one’s head in the sand, but rather to identify the very real challenges facing implementation, their limits, and the importance of maintaining capable crewed warships to restore the RN fleet as a capable naval force. A 20 minute read.
Ed. For Bastille Day, the author considers the past and future of the relationship between the Marine Nationale and the Royal Navy, a vital pillar in the European defence architecture. With a foreword by the First Sea Lord. A 20 minute read.
Ed. Two letters reflecting on cultural and doctrinal transformation in the NATO naval realm.
Ed. The author, with an appreciation for maritime globalisation and the nature of seapowers, argues for greater resilience and redundancy in the UK’s industry and shipbuilding networks, and recognition of the maritime sector’s vital national security role. A 5 minute read.