International air and space leaders will push unity at conference after prickly NATO summit
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- U.S., U.K., and 50+ nations will gather at the Global Air and Space Chiefs’ Conference in London to discuss military strategy on space, nuclear deterrence, and integrated air and missile defense.
- U.K. military leaders plan to advance their F-35 fleet—some nuclear-capable—and integrate autonomous systems into air, land, and naval forces under a new $298 billion defense investment strategy.
- Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach and Gen. Chance Saltzman will represent the U.S. Air and Space Forces, having recently engaged allies in Europe to strengthen space collaboration and collective security.
- U.K. Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smith emphasized that global strategic challenges require allied cooperation, calling defense a 'team game' the U.K. cannot face alone.
- U.S. Space Force and Poland signed a statement of intent to deepen space domain collaboration, reinforcing shared commitments to geospatial intelligence and satellite services.
Why it matters: The U.S. and U.K. are accelerating joint and autonomous military capabilities at a time when European allies question American reliability, shifting toward niche, self-reliant defense roles while publicly reaffirming unity. The $298 billion U.K. plan directly responds to rising threats and internal criticism over prior underinvestment.
