Alarm bells will be ringing in European capitals after incoming Trump appointees have indicated they no longer wish to support Ukraine and instead support a ceasefire with Russia. What does this mean for NATO and European defence going forward? How will the defence alliance cope with an isolationist US? What does this mean for the future of Ukraine and European security? How will the Trump administration handle future relations with a revanchist Putin regime in Moscow? To answer these questions, and yours, HJS research fellow Andrew Fox will be joined by Mike Martin MP, Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesman and Ukraine expert, Dr Jacob Stoil, chair of applied history at the Modern Warfare Institute, and author and journalist, Peter Apps.

This event can only be watched online. To register, please click HERE

Photo credit: https://members.parliament.uk/member/5219/portrait

Mike Martin is the Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge Wells. He is a former British army officer and now a member of both the Defence Select Committee and the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy. He is a Senior Fellow at King’s College London and the author of several books on psychology, conflict and travel.

Photo credit: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/staff/jacob-stoil-2/

Photo credit: https://pete-apps.com/

Peter Apps is a Reuters global affairs commentator, British Army reservist, and executive director of the Project for Study of the 21st Century (PS21), a think tank focused on global issues. A former foreign correspondent, he has reported from over 20 countries, covering conflict zones and global crises. His work includes bestselling books like Deterring Armageddon: A Biography of NATO, which explores NATO’s history and challenges.

Paralysed in a 2006 vehicle accident while reporting in Sri Lanka, Apps returned to journalism nine months later, demonstrating resilience and dedication. He combines his professional work with political activism as a Labour Party campaign officer and advocates for inclusivity and representation in public life. Apps also supports military media operations and serves as a part-time reservist​

Andrew Fox served in the British Army from 2005 to 2021, completing three tours in Afghanistan, including one attached to the US Army Special Forces. He served in the Parachute Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group, with additional tours in Bosnia, the Middle East, and Northern Ireland.

After his active service, he spent three years as a senior lecturer in the War Studies and Behavioural Science departments at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Andrew specialises in Defence, the Middle East, and disinformation. He holds degrees in Law & Politics, Modern War Studies, and Psychology.

His extensive experience has established him as a recognised authority in his field and he provides regular commentary on defence and foreign policy across the media including articles in the New York Post, the Telegraph and Spiked. He has amassed a large following across his digital platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and Substack, where he writes on disinformation, defence and security as stories develop.