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Matthew Palmer

@so3brocktree.bsky.social

1.1K followers 700 following 1.1K posts

🇬🇧 Former soldier. Accidental journalist. Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy and RNSSC. Thoughts & feelings on defence and other things. Not always serious. Views my own. Longer thoughts & feelings on substack: https://crackingdefence.substack.com/

crackingdefence.substack.com

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · Aug 6

Very chuffed to announce that I am now a Fellow of the @congeostrategy.bsky.social!

I'll be writing predominantly on grey-zone threats and joint operations for the Council, while continuing my work on Substack and for the RNSSC.

Please do get in contact if you are interested in any of the above!

Council on Geostrategy @congeostrategy.bsky.social · Aug 6

We are pleased to announce that @so3brocktree.bsky.social is joining us as the Sir John Moore Adjunct Fellow in Military Affairs!

🔗 Read the full announcement: bit.ly/4mtunwr

🚨 Dive straight into Matthew’s analysis on sub-threshold threats: bit.ly/3UgIE3t

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 17h

The UK government's inability to have any serious China policy continues.

"Notwithstanding the fact that further witness statements were provided, none of these stated that at the time of the offence China represented a threat to national security"

....🫠

Spy case collapse blamed on failure to label China a threat

Prosecutors say they were unable to obtain evidence from the government to meet the threshold for prosecution.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 1d

THE SECRET PROJECT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS IS FINALLY LIVE

CHECK IT OUT

outsidersartsclub.com

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 17h

Spy case collapse blamed on failure to label China a threat

Prosecutors say they were unable to obtain evidence from the government to meet the threshold for prosecution.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Matthew Palmer

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1d

The Bishop of Birmingham has written to the Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick about his comments about Handsworth

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 1d

Very cool!

Physics Nobel: Three win prize for paving way for very powerful computers

The announcement was made by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm.

www.bbc.co.uk

Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 2d

Finally!

UK Defence Journal @ukdefencejournal.org.uk · 2d

The missile can now be deployed on front-line duties with Wildcat helicopters, enhancing the Fleet Air Arm’s striking power.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-navy-d...

Royal Navy declares Sea Venom missile ready for use

The missile can now be deployed on front-line duties with Wildcat helicopters, enhancing the Fleet Air Arm’s striking power.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

Reposted by Matthew Palmer

German Embassy London @uk.diplo.de · 5d

“This morning, Germany is one nation again.”

This is how BBC Breakfast News reported on German reunification, 35 years ago today.

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 8d

Let's all gloat a bit at Putin's expense, shall we?

Putin is not having a good week

Moldova, Bosnia, and Ukraine

crackingdefence.substack.com

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alina @ramshackle78.bsky.social · 7d

Ukraine already has access to SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) via the ICEYE platform since 2022 and this can be expanded.
www.iceye.com/newsroom/pre...

For more on ICEYE, @so3brocktree.bsky.social spoke to them at DSEI 2025

crackingdefence.substack.com/p/eyes-in-th...

Eyes in the Sky

ICEYE and sovereign European spacepower

crackingdefence.substack.com

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Sebastian Bae @sebastianbae.bsky.social · 8d

Just a few more sets before the upgrade kits of LCIP 2nd Edition get fully funded! Trust me, you want to grab one if you have a copy of the first edition. Just trust me on this.
dietzfoundation.org/product/litt...

Littoral Commander: Indo-Pacific (UPGRADE KIT)

We've sold a bunch of Littoral Commanders over the past three years--and that support has let the Foundation do HUGE things including the expansion of the LC line of products. Indo-Pac is getting revi...

dietzfoundation.org

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Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 8d

(solemnly) You've had mail.

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 8d

Let's all gloat a bit at Putin's expense, shall we?

Putin is not having a good week

Moldova, Bosnia, and Ukraine

crackingdefence.substack.com

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Reposted by Matthew Palmer

Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 8d

Naval warfare was ruined when aircraft and missiles became a thing and spoilt all the fun of firing big fuck-off guns from floating castles.

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Justin Bronk @justin-br0nk.bsky.social · 9d

And there it is… Ukraine will receive JAS-39 Gripen! Better late than never, I guess. The fighter that was always by far the closest fit to the Ukrainian Air Force’s operational needs is at long last officially on its way (timeline TBC for obvious reasons).

unn.ua/en/amp/minis...

Ministry of Defense announced the transfer of Swedish Gripen fighters to Ukraine | УНН

УНН News of the World ✎ Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Ivan Havryliuk stated that Ukraine expects the supply of Swedish Gripen, French Mirage, and additional F-16s.

unn.ua

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spherical-cow.bsky.social @spherical-cow.bsky.social · 8d

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 8d

Naval warfare was ruined when aircraft and missiles became a thing and spoilt all the fun of firing big fuck-off guns from floating castles.

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 9d

Back to university and about to open the first book of the year! Absolutely buzzing - so good to be back in an nerdy intellectual environment 🤓📖

Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 9d

Fantastic result.

Anca B. @anca-b.bsky.social · 9d

PAS🇪🇺 won 55 seats in the Moldovan parliament, so it will be able to govern without having to make compromises with the pro-Russians.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 9d

Quietly, Maia Sandu is one of the most impressive and inspiring politicians around today. Completely changing the course of her country.

Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 9d

Good news. Huge well done to Maia Sandu and PAS.

Moldova’s ruling party wins crucial election billed as choice between EU and Moscow | CNN

Moldova’s ruling pro-European party has won a crucial parliamentary election against its pro-Russian rivals, a result that keeps Moldova’s bid for European Union membership alive amid persistent alleg...

edition.cnn.com

Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 10d

Its not over until its over, of course, but it looks like PAS will clinch victory over the pro-Russia parties in Moldova! 🇲🇩

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Anca B. @anca-b.bsky.social · 10d

Update 🇲🇩
1,357,410 out of 1,603,682 have been counted, so approximately 84% of the votes:

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Anca B. @anca-b.bsky.social · 10d

I've created a short guide for the leading parties (the electoral threshold is 5%) and their political orientation.

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Militarnyi @militarnyi.com · 10d

Russian and Hungarian state propaganda has jointly accused Ukraine of planning a “false flag” operation — using refurbished Russian drones to strike targets in Poland and Romania in order to “draw NATO into war.”

🔗Read more: militarnyi.com/en/news/russ...

Russia and Hungary Launch Disinformation to Justify Drone Strikes on Targets in Romania and Poland - Militarnyi

Citing “rumors circulating on Telegram,” the article accused Ukraine’s Security Service of preparing a plan to discredit Russia.

militarnyi.com

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 10d

Very cool!

Is this the face of Nelson’s lover Lady Hamilton?

Digital reconstruction from remains found in France bears ‘incredible’ resemblance to British naval hero’s mistress, says expert