Alessio Patalano

The Strategic Significance of the Maritime Theatre in the Russia–Ukraine War - good morning X. Delighted and honoured this piece Dan Hallett and I penned is out with ⁦@RUSI_org⁩ flagship publication- a short thread about our argument: tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

Superb, better than any speech I heard in that chamber as a student and better than all but a dozen or so speeches I've ever heard in the Commons. People will look back on the activism she skewers as nonsensical and damaging

If you’re in the UK, I’ll be on @BBCWorld Radio to talk about the Cultural Revolution anniversary at 7:15 am local time (Saturday)

My latest cartoon for tomorrow's Telegraph Buy a print of my cartoons at telegraph.co.uk/mattprints Original artwork from chrisbeetles.com

💥ISC has revealed the government is withholding Peter Mandelson’s vetting file despite not having authority to do so. In extraordinary intervention, the powerful committee has criticised government over its handling of release of papers - effectively accusing ministers of failing to comply with parliament’s will. theguardian.com/politics/2026/…

I’ve been speaking to a number of people, including some very senior veterans and SAS commanders, and they have been highly critical of Al Carns for seemingly being MIA when it came to vote on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. Carns has been busy working with campaigners behind the scenes - and they’ve praised him for doing so. But when push came to shove on the bill on two votes (one in January and one last month) @AlistairCarns was away meaning he wasn’t able to vote. They see this as a cynical way of dodging a controversial vote. Now he is apparently preparing for a leadership contest should Sir Keir Starmer resign. Those in the veteran community tell me they have lost faith in Mr Carns for failing to support Northern Ireland veterans - which include former special forces personnel, an family he was a part of - when it mattered. If @AlistairCarns genuinely wants to throw his hat into the ring of an election campaign, he surely needs to address this matter publicly. Campaigners say the time for sitting on the fence is over…

It worries me when reports like the one from Adm Cooper don't even mention the c.1000 dhows converted for laying mines Makes me wonder what to believe...😬 YouTube vid on US weapons burn through to follow later today. I need to get faster, much faster🏃‍♂️

This is well worth watching. The words "be kind" are being used to mask terrible cruelty and dishonesty.

An absolutely brilliant performance.

My latest cartoon for tomorrow's Telegraph Buy a print of my cartoons at telegraph.co.uk/mattprints Original artwork from chrisbeetles.com

@MtarfaL This piece here is enlightening in terms of framing analysis. I think process pursuits have hollowed out content. MoD processes are no exception. Seeking to have a definition of FOC that squares with different layers somewhat strains the unquantifiable needs of ‘operations’.

@alessionaval The bigger problem is that the MoD saw this as a “success” so much so they declared FOC 🤷🏻‍♂️ If you want to see what is wrong with the MoD and why HMT are so reticent about giving the arsonist (MoD) more petrol (money) this is a pretty good example. E-7 next……

I am trying to think of a better word than ‘damming’… nope. That’s the one. ‘Irredeemable’ also comes to mind, but I do hope that’s not the case…

@DzirhanDefence Spot on.

@alessionaval They probably have to do so since both the U.K. and France put that operations will begin "when circumstances permit" but not say what the criteria is so the naval units will have to be doing something while being near to quickly deploy on scene

A very meh statement on the Multinational Military Mission for Strait of Hormuz that comes out two days after the meeting. Italian Defence Minister actually gave a more detailed rundown to Italian Parliament. CC @alessionaval gov.uk/government/new…

@DzirhanDefence I think this ‘activism’ is very much to be connected with the domestic troubles.

@alessionaval Wonder how much the domestic political situation in the U.K. is also playing into this given the go ahead would be from Starmer and Macron, with Starmer now embroiled in a fight to stay in office...

It was originally hoped that HMS VENTURER could go into service in 2023, a date that was later revised to 2027, with the whole INSPIRATION-CLASS fleet operating by the early 2030s, reports Johnathan Leake in the @Telegraph. Originally the fleet was to be delivered by 2028

@DzirhanDefence It is also interesting to note that the prepositioning will be nested in other operational activities.

@DzirhanDefence The Sole 24h piece was helpful - and it confirmed what the Italian navy had announced in terms of commitment and availability. Two additional important pieces of info: A. Framework will not be a new operation the likes of ASPIDES or Irini; B. The IT Gov is going to preposition;

@ASalmonSeoul @ModernNavy @Telegraph @Babcockplc @CommonsDefence That’s right. I’m not sure how to interpret ‘out of sequence’.

@alessionaval @ModernNavy @Telegraph @Babcockplc @CommonsDefence Thanks. What does this actually mean, in the Kings English? In terms of “out of sequence” to start with. (And who/what, BTW, overseas this “sequence?”)

Babcock International has admitted it built the first two Type 31 frigates in the wrong sequence, forcing it to spend months making £140m of changes @Telegraph @Babcockplc @CommonsDefence @ModernNavy #RoyalNavy archive.is/2026.05.13-200…

This is a remarkably interesting read. In fairness, I would recognise in this analysis a lot of the transformation taking place in leadership across institutions.

@DorzetRob As a long term failure - yes.

@alessionaval I think to be accurate, it's the collective failure of all UK governments over the past 50+ years not to carry out their primary duty - the protection of the nation. Every one of them squandered the WW2 peace dividend by gradually hollowing out Defence. And so here we are...

No. It’s not a n RN humiliation. It’s strategic illiteracy of a Gov tone deaf to armed realities of statecraft and proving unable to understand that the flexibility of naval power has always underwritten an international law abiding UK. That’s in fact humiliating for the RN.