The Wargame The Ministry of Defiance | The Wargame Ep 6
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Dec 2, 2025 Candid insights reveal how the UK’s defence has dwindled since the Cold War. Hear real-life defence secretaries reflect on strategic failures and procurement blunders. The focus has shifted from homeland security to overseas operations, leaving weaknesses exposed. Cost-cutting austerity measures have exacerbated issues, creating a budget 'black hole.' Delays in military programs like the Ajax have raised concerns about readiness against modern threats. Join the discussion on the pressing need for revitalized defence strategies in a challenging landscape.
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Hollowed-Out Defence Through Political Choices
- Successive governments hollowed out UK defence by cutting forces and shifting spending to domestic priorities.
- That left Britain reliant on image and alliances rather than robust homeland warfare capability.
Thatcher's Meeting With Gorbachev Changed History
- Malcolm Rifkind recalls Margaret Thatcher introducing Mikhail Gorbachev and sensing opportunity.
- That early trust helped end the Cold War without a shot being fired.
From Homeland Defence To Power Projection
- Post‑Cold War UK forces focused on power projection, not homeland defence.
- That strategic shift made state‑on‑state high‑intensity war capabilities deprioritised for decades.
