Lecturer in Defence Studies Education at KCL, @dsdkings.bsky.social | Doctor in War Studies, @warstudieskcl.bsky.social | Associate @csns-uk.bsky.social‬ | Anglo-Japanese grand strategy post-45 🇬🇧🇯🇵 | Views my ownhttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3mldxydpqac2cJoin me for a presentation on an upcoming article on Coercion and Deterrence at Sea. I'll be presenting with the @dsdkings.bsky.social @warstudieskcl.bsky.social Corbett Seapower Centre on the Cod Wars. ⏰21/05 1800-1900GMT 📍Online https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/warping-the-outcome-compellence-and-deterrence-in-the-cod-wars-tickets-1989094562381?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite08 May 2026 14:48 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3mldxydpqac2chttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3mfzk6pit522vHad a lot of fun being able to talk on all things Britain, Cold War and the Indo-Pacific this week, kindly hosted by the Institute of Historical Research and @dsdkings.bsky.social. Thank you to all those attended, there were some great questions and feedback I'll take forward. [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 Mar 2026 20:08 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfzk6pit522vhttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3mf2tpx6f6s2oFujifilm opens a new £400m expansion in Billingham. The expansion adds new bioreactors giving the facility a 19,000 litre capacity. https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/fujifilm-billingham-400m-expansion-business-3339928617 Feb 2026 15:06 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf2tpx6f6s2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3me2aqcq5nc2eDelighted to be speaking on the British perspective of the Indo-Pacific through a Cold War historical lens, hosted by the Institute of Historical Research. ⏰24 Feb 2026 - 1730-1900hrs (GMT) 📍Online/UK Defence Academy, @dsdkings.bsky.social https://www.history.ac.uk/news-events/events/identifying-periphery-britains-indo-pacific-cold-war04 Feb 2026 16:01 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3me2aqcq5nc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3mdfwp6ltcc2mThere's been some push back on the Prime Minister's choice of words regarding "choosing" between the US and China. Whilst the UK will almost always side with the US on something existential - based off shared values and interests - this is a nuanced approach. 1/ [contains quote post or other embedded content]27 Jan 2026 14:09 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdfwp6ltcc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3mcwzugyxik26Meanwhile, the Icelandic Coastguard: [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Jan 2026 15:55 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcwzugyxik26https://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lywxbycupc23Time to do some archive-based teaching!16 Sep 2025 08:57 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lywxbycupc23https://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lyktwsigjs2yA new Miyako-class has entered the water. The JCG 'Hiroshima'. A 3,500-ton of the PL type (Patrol Vessel Large), it is equipped with a flight deck, water cannons and 2x Bofor 40mm systems. Its origins are in the 2016 Budget, with the first entering the water in 2018. https://www.mhi.com/jp/news/25091102.html11 Sep 2025 13:25 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lyktwsigjs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lqn7jrh4d22tI suspect folks aren't going to like the suggestive nature of the document (it is an external 'suggesting' document after all). Lots of room for interpretation and re-interpretation from all involved from policy through to implementation. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/683d89f181deb72cce2680a5/The_Strategic_Defence_Review_2025_-_Making_Britain_Safer_-_secure_at_home__strong_abroad.pdf02 Jun 2025 16:36 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqn7jrh4d22thttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lprcivznzs2zHaving been around with The Centre for Grand Strategy for almost eight years now (in one form or another), am excited to see it take this next step as part of a wider community! [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 May 2025 14:15 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lprcivznzs2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lpjavwiepk2hFor more on how fish can make the public rather barmy at times, see: William Reynolds,‘Refusing to Budge’ | 11 | The Role of the Domestic in Low-Intensity Maritime Conflict - A Cod Wars Perspective. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003298984-11/refusing-budge-william-reynolds19 May 2025 09:25 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpjavwiepk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lna6aallis2jHappy Easter folks!20 Apr 2025 07:53 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lna6aallis2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lkg7jjabg22uA thoroughly enjoyable Staff Ride (my first on the teaching side) with the U.K. Defence Academy. Great colleagues and great course members. Hope to see some of the latter on the Advanced Staff Course.15 Mar 2025 13:17 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkg7jjabg22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lioxmgnuak2xAm happy to say my first academic peer-reviewed journal has just been published with Diplomacy & Statecraft: 'Facing the ‘Rogue Elephant’: The Evolution of British Strategy Towards Japan in the 1970s and 1980s https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09592296.2025.2455841#abstract21 Feb 2025 13:59 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lioxmgnuak2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lien23vlds24With the possibility of an uplift in Defence doing the rounds, I cannot recommend enough Andrew Curtis' book 'We Need to Talk About Defence' on managing the Defence Enterprise. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/we-need-to-talk-about-defence-9781350452688/17 Feb 2025 11:23 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lien23vlds24https://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lht6wqavnk2tNorthern Ireland seems to be making rather effective inroads into India. First Queen's University Belfast opens up a new campus in India and now Thales UK's LMM (manufactured in N Ireland) is being procured. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-india-defence-agreements-boost-atmanirbhar-bharat-ambition10 Feb 2025 12:55 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lht6wqavnk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lht5q7u25s22Always some good news about to lighten the gloom https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-satellite-deal-to-boost-military-operations-jobs-and-growth10 Feb 2025 12:34 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lht5q7u25s22https://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lgzyam3mns2pLooking forward to chatting about Britain, Japan and the Cold War next week! [contains quote post or other embedded content]31 Jan 2025 12:19 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgzyam3mns2phttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lgzyam3mns2pLooking forward to chatting about Britain, Japan and the Cold War next week! [contains quote post or other embedded content]31 Jan 2025 12:19 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgzyam3mns2phttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lgzy6gesw22pA 'Partner' nation - as opposed to a full treaty member - would be more workable for GCAP. Perhaps more cooperation in the systems around the main airframe? That being said, the trilateral members will need to make sure this does not negatively effect timetables. [contains quote post or other embedded content]31 Jan 2025 12:18 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgzy6gesw22phttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lgpjfxmhbk2aInteresting little commemoration for the 75th year since VJ Day from @gwr.com Commemorates Tulbahadur Pun, 3rd Battalion, 6 Gurkha Rifles, who reached a bridge at Mogaung in Burma (now Myanmar), on his own, after his section was wiped out on the charge. Awarded the VC.27 Jan 2025 08:27 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgpjfxmhbk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lfty2ctwdc23Inauguration of the independent Mission of Japan to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (15 Jan 2025) https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/pressite_000001_00924.html16 Jan 2025 09:34 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfty2ctwdc23https://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3lfpb7fcdes2o“The core platform, that will sit at its heart, is being delivered through the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP)." If we are to see cuts related to GCAP it'll probably be the associated systems around the core programme that may get the axe from the UK side. https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/update-on-progress-of-new-british-fighter-jet-project/14 Jan 2025 12:35 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfpb7fcdes2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3letr2cd3sc23Some thoughts from me in @warontherocks.bsky.social on the defence industrial base and what can be done to safeguard the remaining assets without damaging combat effectiveness. @warstudieskcl.bsky.social https://warontherocks.com/2025/01/the-cost-of-sovereignty-the-future-of-britains-defense-industrial-base/03 Jan 2025 14:04 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3letr2cd3sc23https://bsky.app/profile/anglo-japan45.bsky.social/post/3le4uqidpec2oMerry Christmas folks! https://media.tenor.com/TBw6vdeU48AAAAAC/cheers-frank-sinatra.gif?hh=498&ww=49825 Dec 2024 11:38 +0000at://did:plc:xtjxxqbgx7pty6pi2bsrov3s/app.bsky.feed.post/3le4uqidpec2o