Council on Geostrategy
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The Council on Geostrategy is a non-profit think tank based in Westminster, London, England. It was founded in March 2021 by James Rogers,[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/QT0O9_npsJq_EyDqNHxhwiXeVHU/appointments James Matthew Rogers], GOV.UK. the director of research, and Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė,[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/wKRpKD66Q_TnVoYycWYs9y_HJ9k/appointments Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė], GOV.UK. 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".{{Cite web |title=Our Mission |url=https://www.geostrategy.org.uk/our-mission/ |access-date=28 October 2024 |website=Council on Geostrategy}} The organisation has research projects spanning the Euro-Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and Polar regions and has a particular focus on naval power.[https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/sir-stephen-lovegrove-speech-at-the-council-on-geostrategy Sir Stephen Lovegrove Speech at the Council on Geostrategy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713095924/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/sir-stephen-lovegrove-speech-at-the-council-on-geostrategy |date=2024-07-13 }}, GOV.UK, 16 September 2021.[https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2022/july/19/20220719-1sl-speech Royal Navy: First Sea Lord's speech to the Council on Geostrategy], Royal Navy, 19 July 2022.[https://www.coalitionforglobalprosperity.com/news/push-and-pull-will-action-on-the-climate-address-the-refugee-crisis Coalition for Global Prosperity: Push and Pull: Will action on the climate address the refugee crisis?], Coalition for Global Prosperity, 20 June 2024.
Aims and Research
The Council on Geostrategy's stated aims are to:
- Explore strategies related to Britain’s resilience, industrial base, diplomatic, and military capabilities.{{Cite web |date=16 September 2024 |title=Sir Stephen Lovegrove Speech at the Council on Geostrategy |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/seapower-conference-keynote-speech |access-date=30 October 2024 |website=GOV.UK}}
- 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.{{Cite web |last=Caudwell |first=John |title=Worry about the start-ups and the SMEs not the wealthy individuals moving abroad, writes John Caudwell |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/views/worry-about-start-ups-and-smes-not-wealthy-moving-abroad-labour-tax-budget/, |access-date=30 October 2024 |website=LBC}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Russell |date=24 October 2024 |title=Science and technology's contribution to the UK economy |url=https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/science-and-technologys-contribution-to-the-uk-economy/ |access-date=30 October 2024 |website=House of Lords Library}}
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.{{Cite web |date=24 October 2023 |title=UK Defence and the Indo-Pacific:Eleventh Report of Session 2022–23 |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/41808/documents/207298/default/ |access-date=29 October 2024 |website=House of Commons Defence Committee}}
The Strategic Advantage Cell, launched in November 2023, focuses on Britain’s naval power,{{Cite web |last=West |first=L |date=7 August 2024 |title=Submarines 'crucial' for future of British naval power |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/submarines-crucial-for-future-of-british-naval-power/ |access-date=29 October 2024 |website=UK Defence Journal}} space capabilities, alliances and technological developments like hypersonic weapons.{{Cite web |last=Osborne |first=T |date=16 September 2024 |title=Think Tank: UK Should Consider U.S. Hypersonic Weaponry |url=https://aviationweek.com/defense/missile-defense-weapons/think-tank-uk-should-consider-us-hypersonic-weaponry |access-date=30 October 2024 |website=Aviation Week}}
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’ {{Cite web |last=Allison |first=G |date=25 September 2024 |title=UK urged to lead Ukraine coalition with long-range weapons |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-urged-to-lead-ukraine-coalition-with-long-range-weapons/ |access-date=30 October 2024 |website=UK Defence Journal}} for the use against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Funding
The Council receives funding from defence industry companies BAE Systems, Boeing, Leonardo UK, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Thales. It receives funding from the UK government through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, UK Ministry of Defence and Royal Navy.{{cite web |title=Ethics and Funding |url=https://www.geostrategy.org.uk/ethics-and-funding/ |website=Council on Geostrategy |access-date=7 January 2025}}
First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference
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.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-14 |title=First Sea Lord's Sea Power conference 2024 - Defence Secretary's address |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/first-sea-lords-sea-power-conference-2024-defence-secretarys-address |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}
- Rt. Hon. Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-15 |title=First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference 2024: Minister Trevelyan's keynote speech |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/first-sea-lords-sea-power-conference-2024-minister-trevelyans-keynote-speech |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}
- Adm. Sir Ben Key KCB CBE ADC, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff {{Cite web |date=2023-05-17 |title=Sea Power Conference keynote speech |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/seapower-conference-keynote-speech |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}
- 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
The Council on Geostrategy hosts events to facilitate the debate on key geostrategy issues.{{Cite web |title=Events |url=https://www.geostrategy.org.uk/events |access-date=30 October 2024 |website=Council on Geostrategy}} The Geostrategy Forum 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.{{Cite web |title=UK Parliament: Written evidence, Submission by Professor Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/127391/pdf/ |access-date=29 October 2024 |website=parliament. UK}}
Other
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.{{Cite web |last=Haynes |first=D |date=2 April 2024 |title=Ex-military chiefs urge political parties to commit to 2.5% defence spending amid 'gravest threats since Cold News |url=https://news.sky.com/story/ex-military-chiefs-urge-political-parties-to-commit-to-2-5-defence-spending-amid-gravest-threats-since-cold-war-13106440 |access-date=30 October 2024 |website=Sky News}} The Pledge received 30 signatures from senior Parliamentarians, Committee Chairs, former Defence Secretaries, and former leaders of the British Armed Forces.{{Cite web |title=Defence Investment Campaign |url=https://www.geostrategy.org.uk/defence-investment-campaign/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |website=Council on Geostrategy}}
References
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