In spring 2024, the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre (which evolved into a new organisation called Defence Futures since 1 July 2024) of the UK Ministry of Defence commissioned the Global Strategic Partnership (GSP) to prepare a series of argumentative essays addressed to senior officials and decision-makers. The nine essays presented in this volume address a range of strategic issues concerning the UK, NATO, China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, and are intended to stimulate reflection, further thinking and discussion within the UK Ministry of Defence and the wider defence community.

It should be noted that this compendium is distinct from a typical RAND report, as it is not grounded in original RAND research and is not intended to present new findings based on empirical evidence.

Instead, this is a collection of expert commentaries intended to stimulate debate and discussion. Readers are encouraged to consider the subjective nature of these essays, which, while informed commentaries, are not based on empirical research. Consequently, the views expressed are solely those of the authors, and they do not represent the research findings or views of RAND. Similarly, the essays do not reflect the official guidance or position of the UK Ministry of Defence or His Majesty's Government. The essays were written and edited between March and September 2024, therefore they do not fully reflect developments that unfolded since then.