The General & the Journalist Simon Case: If you want peace, prepare for war
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May 21, 2025 
Sir Simon Case, the former Cabinet Secretary and top policy advisor to six prime ministers, shares his insights on Britain's defense spending in the face of rising global threats from an increasingly cooperative Russia and China. He emphasizes China as the dominant challenge for the next two decades, warning about its shared advancements with other rival states. Case discusses the UK's nuclear strategy and the necessity for increased defense budgets, while reflecting on the complexities of his past political experiences during crises like the pandemic.
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China as Pace-Setting Threat
- The main global threat is the rise of strongman states working in concert, led by China as the pace-setting threat.
- China shares advanced military technology with Russia, Iran, and North Korea, shaping the geopolitical landscape for decades.
Challenges In Strategic Foresight
- Governments consistently fail to predict pivot points in global security despite ample intelligence.
- Politicians often struggle to act on clear threats due to competing priorities and budget realities.
UK Defence Spending Reality
- The UK’s defence spending at 2.5% GDP is insufficient to fill current capability gaps caused by decades of underinvestment.
- Effective spending and procurement reform are as vital as raising the budget itself.