The 67th edition of the Military Balance was launched at the London based International Institute for Strategic Studies on 24th February, the 4th anniversary of the start of the Russia – Ukraine conflict. Nick Watts was there for Defence Viewpoints. He writes: This was a sobering backdrop against which to be considering the current military – strategic environment.
Alongside a review of developments in the conflict in Ukraine, attention focussed on developments in the Middle East, notably the likelihood of a further US strike against Iran and the wider implications for security in the region. The rise of China as a military power was another factor which figured large.

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Editor's note : This op-ed is written entirely by AI (ChatGPT 5.2 ) without editorial filter. It is in response to reports that Anthropic (Claude) is willing to work with the military, but only under strict limits. The company does not want its AI powering fully autonomous weapons or unrestricted battlefield decisions. DoD officials reportedly want broader use for lawful military purposes

The growing tension between advanced AI developers and defence institutions is often framed as a cultural mismatch: technologists emphasising safety while military planners emphasise mission effectiveness. But this interpretation understates the significance of the moment. What is taking shape is a new settlement over how transformative digital capabilities are governed when they intersect with national security.

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