Stuart Crawford

Jan 8, 2025 | ukdefencejournal.org.uk | Stuart Crawford

The probable cause is the widespread use of such weapons in Ukraine and in the Middle East. The Russians have made much use of their ballistic missile arsenal – together with drones and cruise missiles – in their ongoing assault against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. This article is the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the UK Defence Journal. If you would like to submit your own article on this topic or any other, please see our submission guidelines.

Sep 21, 2024 | ukdefencejournal.org.uk | Stuart Crawford

At approximately 13:45 BST, pagers which had been distributed by the terrorist organisation to its members and supporters began to explode, in an almost simultaneous series of events which lasted roughly half an hour. Complete confusion ensued in Lebanon and parts of Syria as multiple individuals – presumably all associated in some way with Hezbollah – were wounded and otherwise incapacitated as the electronic devices exploded in their hands, pockets, waist belts, and shopping bags.

Sep 17, 2024 | ukdefencejournal.org.uk | Stuart Crawford

There was no white smoke emanating from the chimney on the thorny issue of allowing western-supplied precision missiles to be used by Ukraine against Russia after Britain’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met US President Joe Biden last week. Starmer and accompanying British Foreign Secretary David Lammy were there to discuss a number of security issues, but top of the agenda was the lifting of restrictions on the use of such weaponry against Russian territory.

Sep 6, 2024 | ukdefencejournal.org.uk | Stuart Crawford

Today, I find myself caught between two worlds: the need for strategic caution and the moral imperative to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. The current speculation around Downing Street’s stance on the use of Storm Shadow missiles by Ukraine perfectly encapsulates this tension. It’s no secret that the UK has been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine since the onset of the war.

Sep 4, 2024 | ukdefencejournal.org.uk | Stuart Crawford

It was ever thus, a cynic would say. Nowhere is this mismatch between pre-election promises and post-election pragmatism more apparent than in the field of defence. The Labour manifesto promised to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from its present approximately 2.2% but refrained from naming a definite timeframe, merely saying “when circumstances allow.”This was, and is, a blatant cop-out – the circumstances may never arrive.