UK National Security Strategy: progress, setbacks and priorities

Building on successful 2023 and 2025 events, this one-day invite-only in person roundtable is co-hosted by Rethinking Security, Kings College London and the BISA Working Group Security Policy and Practice. It provides discreet space for open-minded, evidence-based exchange on national security policy between strategic decision-makers and scholars, opinion shapers and practitioners. It will build on a background paper covering key themes and produce a written outcome document. Its aim is to take stock of the UK National Security Strategy 2025 (NSS2025) within an ever-evolving international environment. 

NSS2025 depicted an era of ‘radical uncertainty’, marked by great power competition, authoritarian aggression, extremist ideologies and technological change. In response it called for a hardening and sharpening of the UK’s approach, focused on security at home, strength abroad, and increased sovereign and asymmetric capabilities. 

Amid the rapid churn of global and domestic political and economic circumstances, a new NSS may be needed before long. One year on, this event takes stock of NSS2025, and efforts to deliver on its vision, with dedicated sessions on: the evolving strategic picture; defence investments, sovereign capabilities and supply chains; relationships and alliances; and resilience to future threats. 

Please note that this event is invite only.