Strengthening National Resilience: Building a Whole of Society and Whole of Government Approach to National Security
Wilton Park's latest report, authored by BFPG Senior Researcher, Jack Pannell, examines the threats to UK national security, the challenges facing government, and possible solutions.
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On 26 and 27 May 2026, the British Foreign Policy Group was delighted to partner with Wilton Park to deliver a two day conference entitled: Strengthening National Resilience: building a whole of society and whole of government approach to national security.
This paper by Wilton Park, in partnership with the British Foreign Policy Group, summarises the discussions, findings and recommendations of the conference. It explores practical policy, legislative and societal recommendations to support a credible ‘whole of society’ approach to national security.
Findings include:
- Russia is the clearest immediate threat, but infrastructure, supply chain, disinformation and climate vulnerabilities are equally pressing and mutually reinforcing.
- An enduring "island mentality" continues to understate the UK's exposure and interdependence.
- Preparedness has not kept pace: government is not yet configured to deliver long-term resilience.
- Communicating the threat remains the central challenge, with cost-of-living concerns and distrust of political messengers crowding out defence and security.
- Estonia, Finland, Singapore, Denmark and Sweden offer contrasting models, but stronger UK leadership is needed — including a responsible minister and ring-fenced budget.
