9 Jun 2026
Lord Robertson, co-lead of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, former UK Secretary of Defence and NATO Secretary General, opened the Pen & Sword Club’s annual Defence Strategic Communications Conference in London this week. His keynote on the theme of ‘New Narratives for a New World Order’ laid bare critical issues that the UK and its European allies are facing, warning delegates that leaders of several other countries are united in undermining us and that what Putin has done to Ukraine, he could also do to us.
Citing the recent Strategic Defence Review, he said: “This country is not safe – whether it’s espionage, cyber-attack or information manipulation. Unless people in this country become aware of the dangers facing us, we won’t carry out the re-arming that is necessary.”
At a time of heightened global security threats and geopolitical shifts that threaten the foundations of the international order, the conference considered defence narratives about sovereignty and interdependence, resilience and cooperation, security and sustainability. Speakers and delegates from across the UK and NATO defence community, industry, and academia discussed key topics with a focus on the role of ‘middle powers’ in strengthening alliances to shape a more stable, rules-based order.
Former Defence Secretary, Dame Penny Mordaunt, led a panel on the importance of developing a ‘Whole of Government Approach’ to unify purpose and message, with a clear example of good practice presented by the Swedish Defence Attache, Captain Stefan Larsson.
Jay Janzen, NATO Director of Strategic Communications, led on the importance of the cognitive domain in communication activities and Mark Laity, Director of the StratCom Academy and former NATO Communications Director, led the final panel online from Ukraine discussing Middle Powers and strengthening alliances.
Lord Peach, Pen & Sword Club Patron and former Chair of the NATO Military Committee, provided his perspective on the current state of defence, the dangers the West faces, and how we can guard against them. He highlighted the scale of conflict around the world, and how we need to respond saying:
“’All conflicts evolve and Ukraine’s armed forces are not those of 2022. There are 131 conflicts around the world affecting some half a billion people. Issues we need to consider include other countries’ ability to ‘weaponize anything’ and remembering that ‘a cornered Russia is a dangerous Russia’ – we must never take our eye off the ball.”
He also singled out the Reserve Forces which will continue to make a major contribution to UK defence and resilience and announced the launch of a new Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Defence and Security Network.
The conference closed with a thought-provoking keynote from Professor Michael Clarke, military analyst and RUSI Distinguished Fellow, who summed up the day with some powerful insights about challenges facing us globally saying:
“Respect for international law has changed and the western world is no longer the centrepiece of global politics. Strategic communications are more vital than ever, and are critical to explaining to the British people why defence spending is important and why defence matters to all of us.”
Highlighting the day’s success, Colonel Rosie Stone, Club National Chair, said: “We operate in a battlespace where information moves faster than policy, and narratives have an effect as powerful as military force. The Pen & Sword Club brings together senior influencers, defence practitioners and correspondents, in a contested media environment were maintaining credibility while countering disinformation is a complex challenge.”
The conference was delivered by the Pen & Sword Club in partnership with Chief Disruptor, and took place on Tuesday 9th June in London. The conference was generously supported by industry partners Lockheed Martin, IN2, Global Protect Risk, M&C Saatchi World Services, RAND Europe, Ghost Shift, Tiberius, Open Minds, and Graphika.