US-UK defense must team up for freedom and defeat tyranny once again

The world is at a crossroads: It is not yet certain whether the 21st century will be defined by freedom or tyranny.One thing we do know is that neither Britain nor America will be bystanders in the struggle.History shows that whenever our allies call, our nations answer.Today, there is nowhere more important for that call to be answered than in Ukraine.Ukraine is the frontline for freedom and democracy everywhere — and while it might seem as if the war is a world away from our daily lives, the outcome matters to us all.That’s because President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions do not stop at Ukraine: Should he prevail, he will move to his next target.That could well be a NATO country, potentially triggering Article 5 — under which an attack on one is considered an attack on all.We must be prepared for such a scenario.Warfare is as tough, bloody and deadly as it has ever been.But Ukraine is rewriting the rules of engagement.Today, a $650 drone can destroy a $4 million tank.Uncrewed boats costing around $265,000 have sunk warships worth $65 million.The time between detecting and striking targets has compressed dramatically, and new technology can be deployed in weeks rather than years.The lesson is clear: Military power is no longer measured simply by who has the biggest, most expensive hardware; it’s about who can innovate fastest, produce at scale and turn relatively cheap technology to devastating military effect.This transformation presents our nations with big challenges.It also presents a huge opportunity for us to work together toward a modern and exciting future.The US-UK partnership has been forged through generations of shared history and sacrifice, but its future cannot run on the fumes of nostalgia.We have repeatedly proven that our nations’ collaboration out-innovates our rivals.It’s not surprising: Together, we are home to the world’s smartest minds, finest universities and most creative companies.If we pool our resources, we can lead the devel...