Lord Robertson, GSF Co-Chair and Lead External Reviewer of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, gave a speech entitled ‘Is Britain Safe?’ on Tuesday 14th April, in which he characterised the government’s approach to national security and defence as ‘corrosive complacency’. Continue reading →

We are delighted that Baroness Ashton has joined GSF’s Advisory Board. Making the announcement, GSF’s President, Johan Eliasch, and Co-Chairs Lord Hammond and Lord Robertson said: ‘It is excellent news for GSF that Cathy has agreed to join our Advisory Board. She brings an unparalleled Continue reading →

The Strategic Defence Review, led by Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (GSF’s Co Chair), Sir Richard Barrons (GSF Advisory Board member) and Dr Fiona Hill, was published today and can be read here.   The External Reviewers’ Daily Telegraph article Continue reading →

‘For Britain, the Sudan crisis is not just a humanitarian emergency….Sudan is degenerating into a large, chaotic and ungoverned space.  We under stand to our cost the consequences of letting such areas develop and fester…. there are pressing reasons why Continue reading →

We are delighted to announce that General David H. Petraeus has joined GSF’s Advisory Board. Making the announcement in a joint statement, Lord Lothian, GSF’s Chairman and Johan Eliasch, GSF’s President, said ‘We are delighted that David has agreed to become a Continue reading →

GSF’s most recent annual compendium of lectures was published in October 2020, and includes 13 lectures which took place between October 2019 and March 2020. The pdf version is available to download here.

GSF’s annual compendium of lectures was published in May, and includes 16 lectures which took place between October 2018 and July 2019.  The pdf version is available to download here.  

In view of the current coronavirus outbreak, we have postponed all our events until further notice. We hope to resume our full programme of events as soon as it is possible for us to do so. Thank you very much Continue reading →

We are delighted that the Rt Hon Philip Hammond has agreed to join GSF’s Advisory Board. Making the announcement, Lord Lothian, GSF’s Chairman, said ‘I am delighted that Philip has agreed to become a member of GSF’s Advisory Board. He has had an Continue reading →

GSF’s annual compendium of lectures was published in January, and includes 12 lectures by the following: Dr. Michael Spindelegger, Director General of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development; Vice-Chancellor of the Republic of Austria (2011-2014) and Austrian Federal Minister Continue reading →

We are delighted that General Sir Richard Barrons KCB CBE has joined GSF’s Advisory Board. Making the announcement, Lord Lothian, GSF’s Chairman, said ‘I am delighted that Richard has agreed to become a member of GSF’s Advisory Board. He has had a tremendously distinguished Continue reading →

To read Lord Lothian’s speech in the House of Lords on the motion that ‘This House takes note of the situation in the Palestinian Territories’ moved by Lord Steel of Aikwood on Thursday 7thJune, click here.

We are delighted to announce that the Rt Hon Gisela Stuart has joined GSF’s Advisory Board. Making the announcement, Lord Lothian, GSF’s Chairman, said ‘I am delighted that Gisela has agreed to become a member of GSF’s Advisory Board. She has had Continue reading →

Our 10th Anniversary ‘Compendium 2006-2016: A Miscellany of Essays, Articles And Reflections’ by members of GSF’s Advisory Board was launched by Lord Lothian on Wednesday 11th May 2016, as part of our events series to mark GSF’s decade in existence. Continue reading →

  We are delighted to announce that Sir Iain Lobban has joined GSF’s Advisory Board. Making the announcement, Lord Lothian, GSF’s Chairman, said ‘We are honoured and delighted that Iain has agreed to become a member of GSF’s Advisory Board. I know that GSF Continue reading →

GSF’s annual compendium of lectures was published in November, and includes 12 lectures by the following: General Sir Richard Shirreff KCB CBE, NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (2011-2014); Professor Jeremy Farrar OBE, Director of the Wellcome Trust; Martin Wolf CBE, Associate Continue reading →

GSF was delighted that our co-publication with the British Council, a collection of essays and personal reflections on the theme of dialogue, entitled ‘The Value Of Dialogue In Times Of Hostility And Uncertainty’ was launched on Friday 13th November at Continue reading →

On 14th July 2015, GSF held a debate entitled ‘The Strategic Defence And Security Review 2015: Tough Choices For Tough Times – Will We Get It Right? General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Continue reading →

GSF’s annual compendium of lectures was published in November, and includes 11 lectures by the following: the Rt Hon Stephen O’Brien MP; Mr Robert Hayes; His Excellency Mr Ünal Çeviköz; Mr Leo Johnson; Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP; Sir Martin Continue reading →

Lord Lothian spoke during the House of Lords debate ‘Iraq – Motion To Take Note’ on Friday 26th September.  While condemning ISIS absolutely, he expressed his reservations over the timing and nature of the proposed British airstrikes in Iraq, and Continue reading →

Lord Lothian, GSF’s Chairman, gave a lecture at the Eisenhower Institute in Washington DC on Monday 2nd June, entitled ‘When WIll We Ever Learn – The End of Hard Power Intervention?’ He was introduced by Susan Eisenhower, Chairman Emeritus of Continue reading →

To read Lord Lothian’s lecture, ‘How The West Lost The Middle East’, which he delivered at the BMW Center for German and European Studies and the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, Washington DC, on Tuesday 1st Continue reading →

GSF’s annual compendium of lectures was published in November, which includes 12 lectures by the following: the Rt Hon Jack Straw MP; HE Dr. Alexander Yakovenko; the Rt Hon the Lord Howell of Guildford; Sir Nigel Sheinwald; Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles; Continue reading →

GSF’s Chairman Lord Lothian spoke in the House of Lords debate on Syria on Thursday 29th August.  His remarks can be found by following this link: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201314/ldhansrd/text/130829-0001.htm#13082914000084 GSF Advisory Boards members Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP and Jack Straw MP spoke Continue reading →

Writing in the Evening Standard on Monday 17th June, Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP argues that to end the war in Syria, western governments must provide military assistance to the Syrian opposition.  While acknowledging the decision facing the British Government is Continue reading →

To read ‘Embattled Assad Enjoys a Stroke of Luck’, click here. Patrick Seale is a leading British writer on the Middle East, and the author of The Struggle for Syria; also, Asad of Syria: The Struggle for the Middle East; and Abu Continue reading →

To read the statement from President Obama on Chuck Hagel’s confirmation as Secretary of Defense, please click or cut and paste this link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/26/statement-president-confirmation-chuck-hagel-secretary-defense  Statement from the President on the Confirmation of Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense With the Continue reading →

Former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw MP argues that as negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 resume in Kazakhstan this week, ‘resolving the current impasse will require statesmanship of a high order from both sides’ and that ‘from the West, there has to be Continue reading →

Click or cut and past the link to read Aaron David Miller’s latest article in the New Republic: http://www.newrepublic.com/article/112351/john-kerry-israel-palestinian-peace-process-not-race Aaron David Miller is currently the Vice President for New Initiatives and a Distinguished Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Continue reading →

To read A New Phase in the Struggle for Syria, click here. Patrick Seale is a leading British writer on the Middle East, and the author of The Struggle for Syria; also, Asad of Syria: The Struggle for the Middle East; and Abu Continue reading →

To watch Jack Straw MP on Prime Minister’s Questions, please click or cut and paste the link below. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21160735

To read the debate on the Intelligence and Security Committee Annual Report 2011-12 in the House of Lords moved by Lord Lothian, GSF’s chairman, please click or cut and paste the link below. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201213/ldhansrd/text/130121-gc0001.htm#13012116000161

On Tuesday 15th January, Michael Lothian gave his perspective on US foreign policy, including the global effect of the pivot to the Asia-Pacific region. The discussion touched upon the implications this may have for the future of the Euro-Atlantic relationship Continue reading →

To read Yemen Seeks To Talk Its Way Out Of Chaos, click here. Patrick Seale is a leading British writer on the Middle East, and the author of The Struggle for Syria; also, Asad of Syria: The Struggle for the Middle East; and Continue reading →

GSF’s annual compendium of lectures was published in October, which includes 13 lectures by the following: Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles; Sir Richard Dearlove; Mark Sedwill; Dr Peter Collecott; Professor the Hon Gareth Evans; Rt Hon the Lord Lawson of Blaby; Kamalesh Continue reading →

To read the White House announcement, click on or cut and paste the following link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/01/07/president-obama-wants-chuck-hagel-run-pentagon

To read ‘Obama’s Big Foreign Policy Headaches’, click here. Patrick Seale is a leading British writer on the Middle East, and the author of The Struggle for Syria; also, Asad of Syria: The Struggle for the Middle East; and Abu Nidal: A Continue reading →

To read ‘Grim Prospects for the Middle East in 2013’,  click here. Patrick Seale is a leading British writer on the Middle East, and the author of The Struggle for Syria; also, Asad of Syria: The Struggle for the Middle East; and Continue reading →

To read ‘How to Bring Peace to Mali and Avoid War’,  click here. Patrick Seale is a leading British writer on the Middle East, and the author of The Struggle for Syria; also, Asad of Syria: The Struggle for the Middle East; Continue reading →

To read GSF Advisory Board member Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP’s comments in The Independent on the US Senate’s vote to name Russian officials involved in corruption and to ban them from travelling to the US following the Magnitsky affair, click Continue reading →

To read ‘Obama Is Courting Danger in the Middle East’,  click here. Patrick Seale is a leading British writer on the Middle East, and the author of The Struggle for Syria; also, Asad of Syria: The Struggle for the Middle East; and Continue reading →

To read ‘What Can The Arabs Do About Gaza?’, click here. Patrick Seale is a leading British writer on the Middle East, and the author of The Struggle for Syria; also, Asad of Syria: The Struggle for the Middle East; and Abu Continue reading →

To read ‘The Coming Obama-Netanyahu Duel’, click here. Patrick Seale is a leading British writer on the Middle East, and the author of The Struggle for Syria; also, Asad of Syria: The Struggle for the Middle East; and Abu Nidal: A Gun Continue reading →

Please click here to download ‘Time For National Reconciliation in Syria’. Patrick Seale is a leading British writer on the Middle East, and the author of The Struggle for Syria; also, Asad of Syria: The Struggle for the Middle East; and Abu Nidal: A Gun for Continue reading →

On 14th March, GSF held a seminar on the Arab Uprisings one year on.  The seminar was opened by the Rt Hon Alan Duncan MP, Minister of State for International Development. The following speakers also took part: Dr Maha Azzam, Associate Fellow, Continue reading →

‘Views on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Debate – The Critical Issue Of Our Time?’ contains contributions by Peter Jenkins, Professor the Hon Gareth Evans, Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP, Lord Browne of Ladyton and Elbridge Colby, together with a foreword by Continue reading →

To read the ISC’s press release, click or paste this link: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/intelligence-security-committee-annual-report-2011-2012  To read the Report, click or paste this link: http://isc.independent.gov.uk/committee-reports/annual-reports The Government’s formal response is expected to be published in the autumn.  

GSF’s lecture, debate and seminar series will return in October 2012.  Details will be posted here in September.

Click here to read Senator Hagel’s remarks and introduction of President Obama, on 28th May, Memorial Day at the Announcement and Proclamation of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. Senator Hagel is Continue reading →

Click here to download Michael Lothian’s lecture, ‘The Disappearing Atlantic Bridge’.                      

Click here to read Sir Malcolm Rifkind’s article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/vladimir-putin/9123804/Putins-Cold-War-politics-will-fail-Russia.html  

Commenting on the IAEA report that Iran has carried out tests “relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device”,  Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP said that there was “no serious doubt” that Iran wants to have the capacity to build a bomb Continue reading →

Professor Anatol Lieven’s article on US-Russia Relations and the Rise of China, published by the New America Foundation, can be downloaded here. His article, ‘Putin: a smart street fighter who knows where his loyalties lie’ published in The Times on 1st October, Continue reading →

Turkish leadership has committed itself to a tough position on Israel, Cyprus and Syria, and any backtracking or sign of weakness will seriously affect its credibility at home, with regional partners, the “Arab Street” and other major global powers, as Continue reading →

Writing for the Globe and Mail on Friday 23rd September on the intractable issues surrounding the bid at the UN for Palestinian statehood, GSF Advisory Board member, HRH Prince El Hassan of Jordan asks if ‘a seat at the table Continue reading →

In his article ‘A Royal Salute to the Commonwealth’, Peter Oborne references Lord Lothian’s pamphlet, ‘Farewell to Drift’, published in October 2010: ‘There is also no reason why the Commonwealth should continue to be based in London, home of the Commonwealth Continue reading →

Hüseyin Gün, GSF Advisory Board member, has written a pamphlet advocating a programme of economic aid to the Middle East on the scale of the Marshall Plan, with Turkey, the region’s largest and most dynamic economy, taking a leading role. Continue reading →