The Spectator National Security Summit

The Spectator’s National Security Summit 2026 will bring together policymakers, industry, the armed forces and media to share their expertise, ideas and unique insights on the crucial opportunities and challenges facing the defence sector and the UK’s national security.

Increasing geopolitical instability – including Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East, rising cyber threats and Nato’s call for greater collective investment – has seen the target of 2.5 per cent GDP defence spending brought forward to 2027, with an ambition for 3 per cent in the next parliament and 5 per cent by 2035.

What should the money be spent on? And is that enough? The Ministry of Defence believes it will require an extra £28bn over the next four years just to meet its forecast costs let alone additional requirements.

If you’re an MP, diplomat, member of the armed forces or civil servant, please email [email protected] to request a complimentary ticket.

Agenda:

• 8.45am – Breakfast‍
• 9.15am – Opening address: Michael Gove
• 9.30am – Keynote: James Cartlidge MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
• 9.55am – Panel 1: The future of drone warfare (Robert Merryweather, BAE Systems Group Technology Director; David Roberts, CEO, ARX Robotics UK; Will Stone MP; David Reed MP; Lisa Haseldine, Online Commissioning Editor – Foreign Affairs, The Spectator)
• 10.55am – Break
• 11.20am – Panel 2: The role of AI in national security (Professor Sir David Omand GCB, Former GCHQ Director; Fiona Walters, Chief Executive, Serco UK & Europe; Enrique Oti, Chief Strategy Officer, Second Front Systems and James Heale, Deputy Political Editor, The Spectator)
• 12.15pm – Panel 3: What is the UK’s role in global defence? (Rachel Ellehuus, Director General, RUSI; Kevin Craven, Chief Executive, ADS; James MacCleary MP, Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesman; Tim Shipman, Political Editor, The Spectator‍)
• 1.00pm – Lunch‍
• 1:40pm – Danny Kruger MP on Reform’s Defence Policy
• 1.55pm – Panel 4: How defence investment leads to economic growth (James Binns, Barclays; Tom Clementi, PoolRe; Andrew Kinniburgh, MakeUK Defence; Danny Kruger MP; Michael Simmons, Economics Editor, The Spectator‍)
• 2.45pm – Break
• 3.05pm – Panel 5: Energy security for national security – how to solve the energy conundrum? (Graham Skinner, Security & Resilience Lead, Offshore Energies UK; Georgios Zisis, Energy Security Officer at Joint Forces Command, Naples, Nato; Andrew Bowie MP, Shadow Minister for Energy Security & Net Zero; Tom Newton Dunn, journalist, theTimes‍)
• 4.05pm – Keynote: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, Chair of the Defence Committee
• 4.15pm – Closing address: Michael Gove
• 4.30pm – Drinks reception
• 5.30pm – Summit ends

Info: Robert Merryweather, BAE Systems Group Technology Director; David Roberts, CEO, ARX Robotics UK; Will Stone MP; David Reed MP; Lisa Haseldine, Online Commissioning Editor – Foreign Affairs, The Spectator

Info: Professor Sir David Omand GCB, Former GCHQ Director; Fiona Walters, Chief Executive, Serco UK & Europe; Enrique Oti, Chief Strategy Officer, Second Front Systems and James Heale, Deputy Political Editor, The Spectator

Info: Rachel Ellehuus, Director General, RUSI; Kevin Craven, Chief Executive, ADS; James MacCleary MP, Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesman; Tim Shipman, Political Editor, The Spectator‍

Info: James Binns, Barclays; Tom Clementi, PoolRe; Andrew Kinniburgh, MakeUK Defence; Danny Kruger MP; Michael Simmons, Economics Editor, The Spectator‍

Info: Graham Skinner, Security & Resilience Lead, Offshore Energies UK; Georgios Zisis, Energy Security Officer at Joint Forces Command, Naples, Nato; Andrew Bowie MP, Shadow Minister for Energy Security & Net Zero; Tom Newton Dunn, journalist, the Times‍

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