Labour Friends of NATO

17/09/2026

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/16/nato-leader-warns-of-most-dangerous-and-complex-security-environment-in-a-generation

Mark Rutte asks UK and Europe to ‘provide hard power Nato needs’ in face of geopolitical uncertainty

17/09/2026

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/burnham-nato-carney-rutte-defence-37670383

The new Prime Minister said despite a change in Downing Street, Britain remained steadfast in its support for the military alliance, in the face of growing threats from Russia and China

11/09/2026

Twenty five years ago, America was under attack.

Within days, NATO triggered Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, without a specific request from the US.

Article 5 states that an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all. It allows each member state to help by taking any necessary measures, including armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.

This is the only time since NATO was established that Article 5 has been invoked.

30/08/2026

Our co-founder Paul Richards, speaking in a personal capacity, appeared on LBC to discuss the threat from Russia and the need for the Labour government to increase defence expenditure.

29/08/2026

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz0zm2j7ld1o

But they say Moscow will likely continue its "hybrid activity" against Nato members, short of direct military action.

09/08/2026

Head of NATO comms, in Ukraine. Interesting job opportunity for the right person.

06/08/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbtBOlhjgjY/?igsh=dHNmdzAwdzFrN2k0

04/08/2026

Nato a decade behind Russia on battlefield, warns Kyiv’s ambassador to UK

30/07/2026

Labour Friends of NATO summer reading recommendation:

If Russia Wins: a scenario by Carlo Masala

This is the book that warns what might happen if the Russians take the Estonian town of Narva with a NATO weak and divided. It highlights the Russian campaign of hybrid warfare that is targeting the UK and the West.

The final section concludes with a salutary warning:

‘A society that is unaware that its way of life is threatened by hybrid warfare and that does not realise that Russia is seeking to undermine trust in the problem-solving capabilities of democratic institutions and processes through a variety of propaganda measures and disinformation campaigns with the aim of discrediting democracy as a form of government - will not develop the willingness to become resilient or resistant. Resilience is the key prerequisite for mastering the challenges that European countries will face in the coming years.

Russia will only be deterred and kept at bay if European societies are prepared to pay the price. In the extreme case of defending the alliance, this price will be measured in human lives, but it is already being paid in economic and political costs. Anyone who hopes to increase defence spending will have to make cuts in other areas or rein in investments elsewhere. This will also involve a reassessment of government priorities.

The lack of resilience in society has negative consequences beyond the financial impact. The armed forces cannot fulfil their mission for long without public support. It is resilience that enables the government to fulfil its mandate of guaranteeing external security. Democratic societies are threatened by hybrid warfare and ultimately what is at stake is nothing less than the defence of the democratic form of government - or to put it more dramatically: defending how we live and how we want to live.’

25/07/2026

Congratulations to our co-founder and Deputy Director Paul Richards for completing a half marathon hike around London to raise funds for Help for Heroes. Well done Paul!