The Security Podcast

What makes someone want to become a soldier? What does it take to command troops on operations, and is a career in the British Army still worthwhile? In this episode of The Security Podcast, Sean Rayment talks to Colonel Harry Fullerton OBE, former commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment, about his military career, why he joined the Life Guards and the realities of leading soldiers in some of the world's most dangerous environments. Regular listeners will be familiar with Harry's views on defence, military strategy and national security, but this episode takes a more personal look at the man behind the uniform. From the highs and lows of military life to the challenges of command and the changing nature of soldiering, Harry reflects on his experiences and considers whether, knowing what he knows today, he would still recommend a career in the British Army.

Almost 800 gravestones marking the final resting places of British and Commonwealth servicemen were removed from the Basra War Cemetery during the Iraq War. They were never returned. The headstones, together with dozens of large slate memorial panels bearing the names of the fallen, were subsequently destroyed. In the latest episode of The Security Podcast, I speak to Ben Soppitt, whose grandfather is buried at Basra, about his campaign to discover exactly what happened, why the decision was taken and who was responsible. We also discuss his decision to launch a judicial review and what he hopes it will achieve. It is an extraordinary story about how Britain remembers — and has a duty to honour — those who died in its service.  

Is Russia preparing for a future war with NATO, or is the greater threat coming from sabotage, cyber attacks and other grey-zone operations? Sean Rayment is joined by defence strategist Harry Fullerton to examine how badly Russia’s military has been damaged in Ukraine, how quickly it could rebuild, why Vladimir Putin continues to provoke the West, and whether Europe is moving closer to a wider war. They also discuss what China is learning from Ukraine and whether modern conflicts between major powers are becoming almost impossible to win decisively.

Artificial intelligence is changing the way wars are fought — and the transformation may only just be beginning. From AI-assisted targeting and autonomous drones to intelligence analysis and battlefield decision-making, machines are taking on roles that once depended entirely on humans. But where does this lead? Could autonomous weapons eventually decide for themselves who or what to attack? What happens when AI fights AI? Will future armies need fewer soldiers? And is Britain moving quickly enough to keep pace with its potential adversaries? In this episode of The Security Podcast, Sean Rayment is joined by Harry Fullerton, defence consultant and strategist and former commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment, to explore how AI is transforming modern warfare, what Ukraine is teaching the world's militaries, and what the battlefield of the future could look like. When Machines Go to War asks one of the most important questions facing modern defence: are humans about to lose their monopoly on making decisions in war?

Artificial intelligence is changing the way wars are fought,  and the transformation may only just be beginning. From AI-assisted targeting and autonomous drones to intelligence analysis and battlefield decision-making, machines are taking on roles that once depended entirely on humans. But where does this lead? Could autonomous weapons eventually decide for themselves who or what to attack? What happens when AI fights AI? Will future armies need fewer soldiers? And is Britain moving quickly enough to keep pace with its potential adversaries? In this episode of The Security Podcast, Sean Rayment is joined by Harry Fullerton, defence consultant and strategist and former commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment, to explore how AI is transforming modern warfare, what Ukraine is teaching the world's militaries, and what the battlefield of the future could look like. When Machines Go to War asks one of the most important questions facing modern defence: are humans about to lose their monopoly on making decisions in war?

Has the West betrayed Ukraine? That is one of the central questions raised by Guardian foreign correspondent and former Moscow correspondent Luke Harding in his new book, Betrayal: Trump, Putin and the New Age of Conquest. In the latest episode of The Security Podcast, I talk to Luke about Donald Trump's extraordinary relationship with Vladimir Putin, America's changing approach to Ukraine and why successive Western leaders have struggled to understand the man in the Kremlin. We discuss Trump's belief that his personal relationship with Putin could bring the war to an end, why the Russian leader has shown so little willingness to compromise, and what all of this means for Ukraine. And then there is perhaps the most provocative question in the book: could Donald Trump be a Russian asset? Is Trump's approach to Putin simply explained by his admiration for powerful authoritarian leaders, or could there be something more troubling behind it? Harding poses a striking question: if Trump were a Russian asset, what exactly would he be doing differently? We also discuss what Harding describes as a new age of conquest — a world in which powerful states increasingly believe that borders can once again be changed by force.

Is Donald Trump a Russian asset? It is one of the most provocative questions raised by Guardian foreign correspondent and former Moscow correspondent Luke Harding in his new book, Betrayal: Trump, Putin and the New Age of Conquest. In the latest episode of The Security Podcast, I talk to Luke about Donald Trump's extraordinary relationship with Vladimir Putin, America's changing approach to Ukraine and why successive Western leaders have struggled to understand the man in the Kremlin. We discuss whether Trump's attitude towards Putin can be explained by his admiration for powerful authoritarian leaders — or whether there could be something more troubling behind it. We also examine Putin's war in Ukraine, the enormous price being paid by both sides and what Luke describes as a new age of conquest in which powerful states increasingly believe borders can once again be changed by force. Has America betrayed Ukraine? What does Putin really want? Can Ukraine survive without unwavering US support? And if Trump were a Russian asset, what would he actually be doing differently? A fascinating and provocative conversation with one of Britain's most experienced Russia correspondents.

The United States entered the war with Iran confident that its overwhelming military superiority would deliver a rapid victory. Instead, Washington appears caught in a conflict it cannot easily win—or end. Iran has continued to launch drones and missiles, threaten shipping and widen the battlefield across the Gulf. By using relatively cheap weapons to stretch sophisticated Western air-defence systems, Tehran has imposed growing military, political and economic costs on the United States and its allies. Why did America go to war? What was President Trump’s original endgame? Why has Iran proved so difficult to defeat? And is there now any credible route out of the conflict? Sean Rayment discusses the war with Paul Cornish, Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of Exeter and founding Director of the Centre for the Public Understanding of Defence and Security.

Britain is preparing for a more dangerous world. The Defence Investment Plan is intended to transform the Armed Forces, strengthen the country’s ability to deter its enemies and ensure Britain is ready for a conflict ministers increasingly warn may no longer be unthinkable. But defence is about far more than buying new ships, aircraft, drones and armoured vehicles. It is about people, preparedness and whether the country as a whole has the resilience to withstand a major national crisis. In this episode of The Security Podcast, I am joined by Harry Fullerton for a wide-ranging discussion about Britain’s military readiness and the future of the Armed Forces. We examine whether national service could ever return, the impact of mental health on recruitment and retention, the need for greater national resilience, the future of Britain’s nuclear deterrent and the role the UK must continue to play within NATO. We also ask whether Britain has the manpower, industrial capacity and political resolve needed to turn the ambitions of the Defence Investment Plan into genuine military capability. As Harry explains, the plan will ultimately be judged on whether it produces Armed Forces that are properly equipped, sufficiently staffed and ready to fight. But there is a paradox at the heart of defence policy. The success of the Defence Investment Plan may never be measured on a battlefield. Its true value may only become apparent if the strength, readiness and credibility it creates persuade Britain’s enemies that a war is not worth starting. Because the greatest victory may not be winning the next war. It may be preventing it altogether.

Westminster has been shaken by the resignations of Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns over claims the government has failed to properly fund the Defence Investment Plan, known as the DIP, intended to pay for the ambitions set out in the defence review. Both politicians  warned that underfunding the plan risks making Britain less safe. In the latest episode of The Security Podcast, I discuss the DIP with Harry Fullerton, a defence consultant and strategist, who once commanded the Household Cavalry Regiment. We ask: what is the Defence Investment Plan, why does it matter, and what happens if it is not properly funded? We also examine a harder question: in an era of drones, missiles, cyber warfare and constrained budgets, are some legacy platforms, including tanks, attack helicopters and even warships, still essential, or are they becoming too expensive to justify? At its heart, this is a debate about priorities. If Britain wants credible defence, someone has to pay for it. The question is who, and what should be sacrificed to make it possible?