Benjamin Tallis
@bctallis.bsky.social
Thought Leadership for Helsing - AI to Protect Our Democracies | Chair @DSI_Strategy |🇺🇦🇪🇺🇩🇪🇨🇿🇬🇧 | #NeoIdealism | Post=personal, Repost ≠ endorse. Views mine
Bottom line
Europe needs *both* a Berlin-centred shield & a distributed national deterrent asap.
Failure to build credible deterrence risks being forced to fight on Russia’s terms - or being coerced & risking our democracies & our freedom.
@glandsbergis.bsky.social
table.media/en/security/...
Europe needs *both* a Berlin-centred shield & a distributed national deterrent asap.
Failure to build credible deterrence risks being forced to fight on Russia’s terms - or being coerced & risking our democracies & our freedom.
@glandsbergis.bsky.social
table.media/en/security/...
Europe needs its own deterrent
The former Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, is calling for Europe to have a deterrent of its own. In his view, Berlin has a central role to play here.
table.media
January 7, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Bottom line
Europe needs *both* a Berlin-centred shield & a distributed national deterrent asap.
Failure to build credible deterrence risks being forced to fight on Russia’s terms - or being coerced & risking our democracies & our freedom.
@glandsbergis.bsky.social
table.media/en/security/...
Europe needs *both* a Berlin-centred shield & a distributed national deterrent asap.
Failure to build credible deterrence risks being forced to fight on Russia’s terms - or being coerced & risking our democracies & our freedom.
@glandsbergis.bsky.social
table.media/en/security/...
🛡 Speed matters on the Eastern Flank
Lithuania can’t wait years for heavy platforms. Rapidly fielded mass strike drones & 'deep & cheap' precision weapons would immediately complicate RU planning [if integrated into operational concept & with political will to use them!]
🧵
Lithuania can’t wait years for heavy platforms. Rapidly fielded mass strike drones & 'deep & cheap' precision weapons would immediately complicate RU planning [if integrated into operational concept & with political will to use them!]
🧵
January 7, 2026 at 2:50 PM
🛡 Speed matters on the Eastern Flank
Lithuania can’t wait years for heavy platforms. Rapidly fielded mass strike drones & 'deep & cheap' precision weapons would immediately complicate RU planning [if integrated into operational concept & with political will to use them!]
🧵
Lithuania can’t wait years for heavy platforms. Rapidly fielded mass strike drones & 'deep & cheap' precision weapons would immediately complicate RU planning [if integrated into operational concept & with political will to use them!]
🧵
🇺🇦 Ukraine shows what’s possible
Ukraine has used precision strikes to disrupt Russian forces deep behind the front & hit critical Russian assets. At greater scale, and strategically conducted, such capabilities would be a powerful deterrent.
🧵
Ukraine has used precision strikes to disrupt Russian forces deep behind the front & hit critical Russian assets. At greater scale, and strategically conducted, such capabilities would be a powerful deterrent.
🧵
January 7, 2026 at 2:50 PM
🇺🇦 Ukraine shows what’s possible
Ukraine has used precision strikes to disrupt Russian forces deep behind the front & hit critical Russian assets. At greater scale, and strategically conducted, such capabilities would be a powerful deterrent.
🧵
Ukraine has used precision strikes to disrupt Russian forces deep behind the front & hit critical Russian assets. At greater scale, and strategically conducted, such capabilities would be a powerful deterrent.
🧵
🇱🇹 Track two: distributed national deterrence
European states (especially on the flank) need quickly usable, national-level strike capabilities that don’t depend on lengthy NATO deliberation, which can buy time & allow allies to join the fight.
🧵
European states (especially on the flank) need quickly usable, national-level strike capabilities that don’t depend on lengthy NATO deliberation, which can buy time & allow allies to join the fight.
🧵
January 7, 2026 at 2:50 PM
🇱🇹 Track two: distributed national deterrence
European states (especially on the flank) need quickly usable, national-level strike capabilities that don’t depend on lengthy NATO deliberation, which can buy time & allow allies to join the fight.
🧵
European states (especially on the flank) need quickly usable, national-level strike capabilities that don’t depend on lengthy NATO deliberation, which can buy time & allow allies to join the fight.
🧵
So we need a new twin-track approach to deterrence
🇩🇪 Track one: centralised European deterrence
Germany has the economic and industrial weight to anchor European defence, but rearmament timelines are too slow. Rapid procurement & fielding of massed capability is essential.
🧵
🇩🇪 Track one: centralised European deterrence
Germany has the economic and industrial weight to anchor European defence, but rearmament timelines are too slow. Rapid procurement & fielding of massed capability is essential.
🧵
January 7, 2026 at 2:50 PM
So we need a new twin-track approach to deterrence
🇩🇪 Track one: centralised European deterrence
Germany has the economic and industrial weight to anchor European defence, but rearmament timelines are too slow. Rapid procurement & fielding of massed capability is essential.
🧵
🇩🇪 Track one: centralised European deterrence
Germany has the economic and industrial weight to anchor European defence, but rearmament timelines are too slow. Rapid procurement & fielding of massed capability is essential.
🧵
🕰 Slower, weaker responses
The swift backlash after Salisbury in 2018 contrasts sharply with today’s drawn-out investigations and committees—something the Kremlin clearly notices.
🧵
The swift backlash after Salisbury in 2018 contrasts sharply with today’s drawn-out investigations and committees—something the Kremlin clearly notices.
🧵
January 7, 2026 at 2:50 PM
🕰 Slower, weaker responses
The swift backlash after Salisbury in 2018 contrasts sharply with today’s drawn-out investigations and committees—something the Kremlin clearly notices.
🧵
The swift backlash after Salisbury in 2018 contrasts sharply with today’s drawn-out investigations and committees—something the Kremlin clearly notices.
🧵
So, @glandsbergis.bsky.social argues that there’s still too much comforting (but dangerous) legacy thinking.
📜Europe’s outdated assumption-
For decades, challenging Europe also meant challenging the US. That assumption no longer fully holds, particularly on NATO’s eastern flank.
🧵
📜Europe’s outdated assumption-
For decades, challenging Europe also meant challenging the US. That assumption no longer fully holds, particularly on NATO’s eastern flank.
🧵
January 7, 2026 at 2:50 PM
So, @glandsbergis.bsky.social argues that there’s still too much comforting (but dangerous) legacy thinking.
📜Europe’s outdated assumption-
For decades, challenging Europe also meant challenging the US. That assumption no longer fully holds, particularly on NATO’s eastern flank.
🧵
📜Europe’s outdated assumption-
For decades, challenging Europe also meant challenging the US. That assumption no longer fully holds, particularly on NATO’s eastern flank.
🧵
🇷🇺Russia is testing our limits
Moscow senses the shift, & the weakening of our deterrence, probing NATO airspace, infrastructure, and borders through persistent hybrid attacks without facing serious consequences.
🧵
Moscow senses the shift, & the weakening of our deterrence, probing NATO airspace, infrastructure, and borders through persistent hybrid attacks without facing serious consequences.
🧵
January 7, 2026 at 2:50 PM
🇷🇺Russia is testing our limits
Moscow senses the shift, & the weakening of our deterrence, probing NATO airspace, infrastructure, and borders through persistent hybrid attacks without facing serious consequences.
🧵
Moscow senses the shift, & the weakening of our deterrence, probing NATO airspace, infrastructure, and borders through persistent hybrid attacks without facing serious consequences.
🧵
Key elements of @glandsbergis.bsky.social’s argument
🇺🇸 US shift & a weakening deterrent in the emerging new world order.
Washington no longer treats European defence as a core interest [to put it mildly]. Commitments feel conditional, & deterrence—fundamentally psychological—is eroding.🧵
🇺🇸 US shift & a weakening deterrent in the emerging new world order.
Washington no longer treats European defence as a core interest [to put it mildly]. Commitments feel conditional, & deterrence—fundamentally psychological—is eroding.🧵
January 7, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Key elements of @glandsbergis.bsky.social’s argument
🇺🇸 US shift & a weakening deterrent in the emerging new world order.
Washington no longer treats European defence as a core interest [to put it mildly]. Commitments feel conditional, & deterrence—fundamentally psychological—is eroding.🧵
🇺🇸 US shift & a weakening deterrent in the emerging new world order.
Washington no longer treats European defence as a core interest [to put it mildly]. Commitments feel conditional, & deterrence—fundamentally psychological—is eroding.🧵
ICYMI! Great piece from @glandsbergis.bsky.social from before xmas on why Europe needs a new, two-track approach to deterrence - & fast!
Europe’s security situation is changing fast— pretending otherwise is becoming dangerous & GL’s piece is even more pertinent now
🧵
table.media/en/security/...
Europe’s security situation is changing fast— pretending otherwise is becoming dangerous & GL’s piece is even more pertinent now
🧵
table.media/en/security/...
Europe needs its own deterrent
The former Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, is calling for Europe to have a deterrent of its own. In his view, Berlin has a central role to play here.
table.media
January 7, 2026 at 2:50 PM
ICYMI! Great piece from @glandsbergis.bsky.social from before xmas on why Europe needs a new, two-track approach to deterrence - & fast!
Europe’s security situation is changing fast— pretending otherwise is becoming dangerous & GL’s piece is even more pertinent now
🧵
table.media/en/security/...
Europe’s security situation is changing fast— pretending otherwise is becoming dangerous & GL’s piece is even more pertinent now
🧵
table.media/en/security/...
Great interview @shashj.bsky.social - & a super way to get a clearer understanding of Helsing’s vision, how we’re supplying Ukraine with advanced strike drones & building the capabilities that Europe needs for effective deterrence.
Europe has the tools to take our future in our hands.
Europe has the tools to take our future in our hands.
For Inside Defence, I interviewed Torsten Reil, the co-founder of the defence-tech firm Helsing. We talked about competing visions of the future of war, ethical dilemmas around autonomy & AI & whether Europe's defence industry needs US-free supply chains. www.economist.com/insider/insi...
How is AI changing warfare? | The Economist Insider
Today’s arms-makers must be nimble. New technologies are transforming the battlefield while raising moral questions about who bears responsibility when machines make life-or-death decisions. Torsten R...
www.economist.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Great interview @shashj.bsky.social - & a super way to get a clearer understanding of Helsing’s vision, how we’re supplying Ukraine with advanced strike drones & building the capabilities that Europe needs for effective deterrence.
Europe has the tools to take our future in our hands.
Europe has the tools to take our future in our hands.
New Tech ≠ Military Transformation - or advantage.
A powerful reminder from fmr UK CDS Nick Carter in his new @WarOnTheRocks article
Learning from #Ukraine & military history, real change needs integration, vision & realistic experimentation at scale
warontherocks.com/2026/01/a-ne...
A powerful reminder from fmr UK CDS Nick Carter in his new @WarOnTheRocks article
Learning from #Ukraine & military history, real change needs integration, vision & realistic experimentation at scale
warontherocks.com/2026/01/a-ne...
A New Way of Warfare Requires More Than New Tech
When I look back at my 45 years of military service, one of the highlights of my military education was a battlefield tour I participated in during 2001
warontherocks.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:05 PM
New Tech ≠ Military Transformation - or advantage.
A powerful reminder from fmr UK CDS Nick Carter in his new @WarOnTheRocks article
Learning from #Ukraine & military history, real change needs integration, vision & realistic experimentation at scale
warontherocks.com/2026/01/a-ne...
A powerful reminder from fmr UK CDS Nick Carter in his new @WarOnTheRocks article
Learning from #Ukraine & military history, real change needs integration, vision & realistic experimentation at scale
warontherocks.com/2026/01/a-ne...
Reposted by Benjamin Tallis
My top 20 reads of 2025
(incl a few evergreen re-reads)
These books materially shaped how I think and work — and several translated directly into real professional impact.
I’ve got a strong list for 2026, but I’m keen to sharpen it:
- what should I be reading next?
(incl a few evergreen re-reads)
These books materially shaped how I think and work — and several translated directly into real professional impact.
I’ve got a strong list for 2026, but I’m keen to sharpen it:
- what should I be reading next?
January 3, 2026 at 5:13 PM
My top 20 reads of 2025
(incl a few evergreen re-reads)
These books materially shaped how I think and work — and several translated directly into real professional impact.
I’ve got a strong list for 2026, but I’m keen to sharpen it:
- what should I be reading next?
(incl a few evergreen re-reads)
These books materially shaped how I think and work — and several translated directly into real professional impact.
I’ve got a strong list for 2026, but I’m keen to sharpen it:
- what should I be reading next?
January 3, 2026 at 4:12 PM
My top 20 reads of 2025
(incl a few evergreen re-reads)
These books materially shaped how I think and work — and several translated directly into real professional impact.
I’ve got a strong list for 2026, but I’m keen to sharpen it:
- what should I be reading next?
(incl a few evergreen re-reads)
These books materially shaped how I think and work — and several translated directly into real professional impact.
I’ve got a strong list for 2026, but I’m keen to sharpen it:
- what should I be reading next?
Military need & geopolitical reality not bureaucratic timelines or fiscal shortsightedness must drive Europe’s rearmament.
We need to align pol, Econ & mil timelines to transform our forces, fast.
Delayed deterrence is failed deterrence
- & failed deterrence costs so much more.
We need to align pol, Econ & mil timelines to transform our forces, fast.
Delayed deterrence is failed deterrence
- & failed deterrence costs so much more.
December 18, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Military need & geopolitical reality not bureaucratic timelines or fiscal shortsightedness must drive Europe’s rearmament.
We need to align pol, Econ & mil timelines to transform our forces, fast.
Delayed deterrence is failed deterrence
- & failed deterrence costs so much more.
We need to align pol, Econ & mil timelines to transform our forces, fast.
Delayed deterrence is failed deterrence
- & failed deterrence costs so much more.
Reposted by Benjamin Tallis
👇
Honoured to be at @rusi.bsky.social for CDS lecture in London.
A broad ‘whole of society’ vision & strong words on lethality, but as the questions showed, UK need to dispel a perceived ‘say-do gap’.
Building on Atlantic Bastion model to get new capability at speed & scale would do just that.
A broad ‘whole of society’ vision & strong words on lethality, but as the questions showed, UK need to dispel a perceived ‘say-do gap’.
Building on Atlantic Bastion model to get new capability at speed & scale would do just that.
December 16, 2025 at 7:59 PM
👇
Honoured to be at @rusi.bsky.social for CDS lecture in London.
A broad ‘whole of society’ vision & strong words on lethality, but as the questions showed, UK need to dispel a perceived ‘say-do gap’.
Building on Atlantic Bastion model to get new capability at speed & scale would do just that.
A broad ‘whole of society’ vision & strong words on lethality, but as the questions showed, UK need to dispel a perceived ‘say-do gap’.
Building on Atlantic Bastion model to get new capability at speed & scale would do just that.
December 16, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Honoured to be at @rusi.bsky.social for CDS lecture in London.
A broad ‘whole of society’ vision & strong words on lethality, but as the questions showed, UK need to dispel a perceived ‘say-do gap’.
Building on Atlantic Bastion model to get new capability at speed & scale would do just that.
A broad ‘whole of society’ vision & strong words on lethality, but as the questions showed, UK need to dispel a perceived ‘say-do gap’.
Building on Atlantic Bastion model to get new capability at speed & scale would do just that.
Next leg of the Winterreise.
After a brief festive pit stop in beautiful #Prague, I’m now back on the road, heading to #London for meetings with experts & a special event.
We have so much to protect - & much to do to protect it, but wherever I’ve been so far we’re stepping up.
After a brief festive pit stop in beautiful #Prague, I’m now back on the road, heading to #London for meetings with experts & a special event.
We have so much to protect - & much to do to protect it, but wherever I’ve been so far we’re stepping up.
December 14, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Baby, it’s cold outside!
Wonderful, short but intense wintry trip to #Ottawa.
Great to check in with
experts, policy shapers & industry players
& feel the energy for defence transformation & building military capability using AI.
Geopolitical winter is coming but we need to be #preparednotscared
Wonderful, short but intense wintry trip to #Ottawa.
Great to check in with
experts, policy shapers & industry players
& feel the energy for defence transformation & building military capability using AI.
Geopolitical winter is coming but we need to be #preparednotscared
December 12, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Baby, it’s cold outside!
Wonderful, short but intense wintry trip to #Ottawa.
Great to check in with
experts, policy shapers & industry players
& feel the energy for defence transformation & building military capability using AI.
Geopolitical winter is coming but we need to be #preparednotscared
Wonderful, short but intense wintry trip to #Ottawa.
Great to check in with
experts, policy shapers & industry players
& feel the energy for defence transformation & building military capability using AI.
Geopolitical winter is coming but we need to be #preparednotscared
Political will meets cutting edge expertise & industrial dynamism.
⏩🇩🇪🇨🇦🦾
It was an honour to co-lead the session on rising to new security challenges at the excellent German-Canadian AI Symposium in Montreal in the company of political, industry & AI leaders.
Now we all need to deliver.
⏩🇩🇪🇨🇦🦾
It was an honour to co-lead the session on rising to new security challenges at the excellent German-Canadian AI Symposium in Montreal in the company of political, industry & AI leaders.
Now we all need to deliver.
December 11, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Political will meets cutting edge expertise & industrial dynamism.
⏩🇩🇪🇨🇦🦾
It was an honour to co-lead the session on rising to new security challenges at the excellent German-Canadian AI Symposium in Montreal in the company of political, industry & AI leaders.
Now we all need to deliver.
⏩🇩🇪🇨🇦🦾
It was an honour to co-lead the session on rising to new security challenges at the excellent German-Canadian AI Symposium in Montreal in the company of political, industry & AI leaders.
Now we all need to deliver.
Munich was looking wonderfully festive, & it was a wrench to leave after such a flying visit - though we crammed a lot of work in with a high-intensity engagement with military leaders.
But, it’s already ‘giddy up Jingle Horse’, and on to Montreal via, a lovely dawn, for the AI symposium.
But, it’s already ‘giddy up Jingle Horse’, and on to Montreal via, a lovely dawn, for the AI symposium.
December 9, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Munich was looking wonderfully festive, & it was a wrench to leave after such a flying visit - though we crammed a lot of work in with a high-intensity engagement with military leaders.
But, it’s already ‘giddy up Jingle Horse’, and on to Montreal via, a lovely dawn, for the AI symposium.
But, it’s already ‘giddy up Jingle Horse’, and on to Montreal via, a lovely dawn, for the AI symposium.
It was an honour to engage with the Bundeswehr Führungsakademie Transatlantic Seminar at Helsing Munich on a crucial topic:
- We need to master current & future shifts or face being mastered by our enemies.
- We need to master current & future shifts or face being mastered by our enemies.
December 9, 2025 at 7:19 AM
It was an honour to engage with the Bundeswehr Führungsakademie Transatlantic Seminar at Helsing Munich on a crucial topic:
- We need to master current & future shifts or face being mastered by our enemies.
- We need to master current & future shifts or face being mastered by our enemies.
Reposted by Benjamin Tallis
Europe must act now. We should use Russia’s frozen assets to provide a reparations loan that strengthens Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. This is fair, feasible and urgent. Leaders of 🇫🇮🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇸🇪🇵🇱🇮🇪 to 🇪🇺 in the name of 🇺🇦
December 8, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Europe must act now. We should use Russia’s frozen assets to provide a reparations loan that strengthens Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. This is fair, feasible and urgent. Leaders of 🇫🇮🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇸🇪🇵🇱🇮🇪 to 🇪🇺 in the name of 🇺🇦