21 September 2026
Academic submits evidence to parliamentary inquiry
A King’s academic has submitted evidence to MPs as part of a new inquiry into defence and security as the UK and its allies confront Russian aggression.
Dr Jonathan Leader Maynard set out a series of priorities for the UK and NATO partners in his submission to the House of Commons Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, which is examining ways in which the UK can deter and counter Russia.
In his submission to the committee, Dr Leader Maynard – a reader in international politics – made three key recommendations for the inquiry to consider as it progresses with its work.
Among the recommendations, Dr Leader Maynard called for the UK and Europe to strike a better balance between traditional hard power assets and more usable sub-threshold assets as Russian operatives expand into hybrid warfare and espionage.
In its new inquiry, the committee is considering the UK’s ability to impose costs and constraints to further deter Russian aggression, how to change the risk calculation in key parts of the Russian system, including its security apparatus.
MPs are also considering what would enable more effective European deterrence of Russia, and how the UK could work with its European Union and NATO allies to strengthen deterrence.
You can read Dr Leader Maynard’s evidence in full here: Deterrence in an age of Russian aggression.
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Reader in International Politics