On Tuesday, March 17, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine visited London for talks with the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. The Telegraph reported the visit as a "don't forget about me..." European tour exposing panic in Ukraine that the US/Israeli war on Iran was now capturing the "world's focus" of leaders and media alike. In fact, the reports said that Zelensky was "welcomed by King Charles at Buckingham Palace" with a "warm handshake and photograph"; he also addressed "Parliamentarians" at a Westminster committee room that included the Prime Minister, NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte, Defence Secretary John Healey and leaders of opposition parties. Starmer focused on Britain's affirming a "world leading partnership" and "our shared determination to deepen our defence partnership" with Ukraine. The Prime Minister's office also presented this as "support to partners in the Gulf" and as a "defence partnership" against "indiscriminate Iranian attacks" whilst continuing to escalate its proxy war in Ukraine against Russia and use its "partner Ukraine" to support the US/Israeli aggression against Iran.

In his speech, Zelensky also sought to link the US/Israeli war in the Middle East against Iran with the long-running conflict in Ukraine, insulting the Russian and Iranian governments as the "brothers in hatred". Supposedly, the Anglo-US provoked NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and the attack on Iran are "defensive" wars without hatred whilst killing tens of thousands in their wars! Zelensky showed the subservience of his Ukrainian regime to these warmongers when he boasted that there were now "201 Ukrainian military experts in the Middle East", with "another 44 ready to deploy", who were sharing their knowledge on how to defend against Iranian drones in support of the US/Israeli attack on Iran. Prior to Zelensky's visit, Starmer revealed who was pulling the strings, when he had said on March 1 that Britain would "bring experts from Ukraine together with our own experts" to help Gulf partners shoot down Iranian drones. This is why Iran now sees Ukraine as part of the hostile anti-Iran coalition associated with the US/Israeli criminal bombing of and aggression against Iran.

During their talks, Starmer and Zelensky signed a "partnership" [1] that will combine "Ukrainian expertise and the UK's industrial base" to manufacture and supply drones and other capabilities. They revisited the UK-Ukraine Strategic Dialogue [2] going through the "8 pillars" of the provocative "Landmark 100 Year Partnership Agreement" signed in January last year. This agreement Workers' Weekly condemned at the time as a British warmongering "partnership" agreement with Ukraine. An agreement which is in the service of Britain's imperialist ambitions, its monopolies and war industries. It "reveals that the British and European leaders are not seeking a permanent peace but are being forced to make concessions for the 'foreseeable future' on their global ambitions" whilst they "continue to embed themselves in their proxy state of Ukraine, and use it to weaken Russia in Eastern Europe and Asia. [3]"

QinetiQ Drone - Ukraine utilises British QinetiQ Banshee Jet 80 UAVs as long-range kamikaze drones.

This was the British agenda with its cartel party system supporting the talks between Starmer and Zelensky. The Ukraine Defence Partnership reveals Britain's global ambition to continue to embed itself in the Ukrainian state and its war and other industries. Britain is doing this to continue to use Ukraine and the Ukrainian people as its proxy army and weapons producer. It also wants to use Ukraine to help rescue Britain's shattered ambitions in West Asia and try to take advantage of the US/Israel war against Iran. It is using Ukrainian forces and experts it has helped hone in the war against Russia alongside British "advisors". But now Britain is once again engaged in military actions in the Middle East against Iran.

In a government statement to parliament on Tuesday, Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, said [4]: "As I speak, British Typhoons and F-35s are flying in defence of the eastern Mediterranean and across Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq. The UK's defensive military action is supporting the wider region, with four extra Typhoons, three Wildcat helicopters and a Merlin helicopter already deployed. We are increasing our naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean, as HMS Dragon and RFA Lyme Bay approach. As the House is aware, we have given permission for US forces to use long-standing basing at RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia to support defensive strikes against the ballistic missiles that are targeting the Gulf." These bases in Britain and in the Indian Ocean have been used by the USAF to criminally bomb Iran as outright unprovoked aggression - not as "defence". This was followed by the further allegation that "our Cyprus base is not being used in those US operations". Yet it is being used, for, as a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence told the BBC on March 6, "Just this week, we have flown Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets on sorties around the region, shooting down Iranian drones." This base at RAF Akrotiri has long supported operations in the Middle East and, more recently, been used for surveillance flights over Gaza in support of Israeli genocide against the Palestinians.

The anti-war movement in Britain is facing the crucial task of opposing the warmongering schemes of the British government and continuing to expose and oppose these destructive military alliances with Ukraine. These include the Ukraine "Landmark 100 Year Partnership Agreement" signed last year, and the "UK-Ukraine joint statement: Enhanced Security and Defence Industrial Collaboration Declaration", the "Ukraine Defence Partnership", and the "Enhanced Security and Defence Industrial Collaboration Declaration" signed this week by Starmer and Zelensky. These agreements promoted by Britain, and by the Anglo/US-led NATO countries, continue to promote and provoke and escalate war not just in Ukraine but in West Asia and even in Africa and Asia where Ukrainian troops are also now appearing. They aim to build infrastructure for war against Russia and Iran as well as all over the world in the name of a "defensive alliances" and "industrial collaborations". They must be opposed alongside the warmongering NATO alliance itself. This is an urgent aim for all the movements of the people for peace.

Notes
1. UK-Ukraine joint statement: Enhanced Security and Defence Industrial Collaboration Declaration - GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-ukraine-joint-statement-enhanced-security-and-defence-industrial-collaboration-declaration
Ukraine Defence Partnership set to boost global production and national security
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukraine-defence-partnership-set-to-boost-global-production-and-national-security
2. The UK-Ukraine Strategic Dialogue - GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-uk-ukraine-strategic-dialogue
3. UK and Ukraine sign "Landmark 100 Year Partnership Agreement": Starmer's Vain Attempt to Ensure Ukraine Remains NATO's Proxy against Russia, Workers' Weekly, January 25, 2025
https://www.rcpbml.org.uk/wwie-25/ww25-01/ww25-01-01.htm
4. Yvette Cooper The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs update on Middle east
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2026-03-17/debates/5E7F5053-690E-47A6-926D-6A2B1A904946/MiddleEast

Based on a presentation given at a London RCPB(ML) discussion meeting

What did Prime Minister Keir Starmer mean by saying the British state has been "feeble" as he did last year? This means that the working class and people should expect increased rule on the basis of the police powers of the executive, of police rule, with even the possibility of this being extended to military powers. In other words, it also applies to militarisation, where it is used as a reason for strengthening the military, increasing the spending on so-called "defence". The government's Strategic Defence Review was announced by the Prime Minister in June last year. This, as Starmer said then, aims to turn Britain's already military-dominated economy into a fully militarised economy and to put British society on a war footing. And Starmer's words on Britain's engagement in the war against Iran have demonstrated the fraud of "defence" versus "attack" and the actual subservience to Trump's wanton exercise of extreme violence, warmongering and contempt for all international norms.

Furthermore, it is not only an issue with the government directly, but the issue of putting arms manufacturers at the centre of the war machine. Keir Starmer's aspiration is to put Britain and its arms industries at the centre of a militarised Europe. British arms exports have soared to a record £9.2bn. The value of UK "single individual" licences for arms exports in 2024 (the latest full-year figures) increased by 86% to reach a record £9.2bn. Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Qatar, and the US are the top recipients. There is a close relationship between British and US arms industries. The figure of £9.2bn does not cover exports under unlimited "open" licences. The Campaign against the Arms Trade (CAAT) estimates these account for roughly half of all UK arms exports. And for some countries and regions, including the US and West Asia, a substantial majority of exports go through open licences.

The major legal, regulated arms and defence manufacturers operating in Britain, producing defence systems, aerospace technology, naval systems, vehicles, electronics and other equipment, are [1]:

BAE Systems: Sector: Aerospace, naval systems, armoured vehicles, munitions; Notes: Largest defence contractor in the UK; major supplier to MoD; Products: Typhoon fighter (with partners), submarines, artillery, naval ships

Rolls Royce Defence: Sector: Military jet engines, naval nuclear propulsion; Products: Engines for Typhoon, Hawk, and naval reactors

Leonardo UK: Sector: Radar, helicopters, avionics, electronic warfare; Products: AW159 Wildcat, AESA radars, defensive systems

MBDA UK: Sector: Missiles and missile systems; Products: Brimstone, Meteor, Sea Ceptor

Thales UK: Sector: Sensors, communications, naval systems; Products: Sonar, optronics, air defence components

QinetiQ: Sector: Defence research, robotics, testing; Products: Robotics, sensors, test ranges

Babcock International: Sector: Naval engineering, shipbuilding, support; Products: Type 31 frigate programme

BAE Systems Munitions (formerly Royal Ordnance): Sector: Small arms ammunition, artillery shells; Products: 5.56mm, 7.62mm, 155mm shells

Ultra Electronics: Sector: Submarine systems, sonar, communications

Chemring Group: Sector: Countermeasures, pyrotechnics, sensors; Products: Flares, decoys, explosives detection

Other notable companies producing components, vehicles, electronics, or support systems are:

London demonstration confronting the US Embassy, March 7 2026

Marshall Aerospace & Defence - military shelters, aircraft support; Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) - armoured vehicles (e.g., Boxer): Supacat - high-mobility military vehicles; Jankel Group - protected vehicles, armour systems; Meggitt (now part of Parker) - aerospace components, defence systems; Cranfield Aerospace - aerospace engineering; AWE (Atomic Weapons Establishment) - nuclear warhead stewardship (highly regulated); BAE Systems Maritime - submarines and warships

Some key issues arising are the arms sales to Israel in the context of the genocidal war on Gaza; the government's push to sell Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey; and the sale of arms to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the context of the UAE's role in arming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in Sudan. Britain is also to procure more anti-drone missiles in show of support for Gulf allies.

Companies which have links with supplying weapons to Israel, and vice versa the Israeli military firms which have links in Britain, are as follows [2]:

1. Israeli arms companies with a UK footprint

RAF conducts first air strikes of Iraq mission - Photo: MOD

Elbit Systems & Elbit Systems UK

Role: Israel's largest arms producer; describes its drones as the "backbone" of Israel's drone fleet.

UK presence: CAAT lists four UK subsidiaries-Instro Precision, Elite KL, Ferranti Technologies, UAV Engines-plus joint ventures UAV Technologies (with Thales UK) and Affinity (with KBR).

Facilities: Some UK sites have been the focus of sustained protest and at least one closure has been reported in Bristol.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)

Role: State-owned Israeli arms company, among the world's largest.

UK link: Contracted to supply Jaguar Remote Patrol Vehicles to the UK for unmanned land systems trials.

Rafael & Israel Military Industries (IMI)

Role: Along with Elbit and IAI, these form the core of Israel's arms industry, exporting globally.

UK link: Their equipment and components appear in international supply chains; CAAT flags them as key Israeli suppliers, though specific UK-plant footprints are less prominent than Elbit's.

2. UK and European manufacturers tied into Israeli projects

Thales UK

Type of link: Joint programmes and technology sharing with Elbit.

Example: The Watchkeeper WK450 UAV, delivered to the UK under an ~£800m contract, is based on Elbit's Hermes drone platform.

UAV Tactical Systems / "UAV Technologies" JV

Structure: Joint venture between Elbit and Thales UK, operating in the UK.

Role: Involved in production and support of the Watchkeeper UAV system used by the British Army.

Affinity (Elbit + KBR)

Type of link: Joint venture providing UK military flight training services and platforms.

There are many smaller industries which produce components for military hardware. Many UK-based arms and dual-use manufacturers may have export licences to Israel (or to programmes involving Israeli end-users), even if they do not advertise it. Those links show up in UK Strategic Export Controls data and NGO analyses rather than in neat corporate lists.

Israel now possesses 48 F-35 combat jets, 15% of which is made in the UK. Israel has been using its F-35s in so-called "beast mode" to bomb Gaza.

Britain, along with France and Germany, is also contributing significantly to the militarisation of Europe. In July 2025, Britain and France signed the Northwood and the Lancaster House 2.0 declarations. The former concerns nuclear co-operation between Britain and France, committing both states to co-ordinating nuclear policy, capabilities and operations. The latter, according to the British government, is said to reboot, modernise and build upon the bilateral defence and security relationship between the two countries, including under the Lancaster House Treaties, in order to "effect a generational shift in both our bilateral co-operation and our joint contribution to the defence of Europe" through co-operation on nuclear weapons, overhauling the existing Combined Joint Expeditionary Force, and "bringing our defence industries and militaries closer than ever before to strengthen NATO".

At the Munich Security Conference in February, Keir Starmer affirmed: "We must go beyond the historic steps that we took at last year's UK-EU summit to build the formidable productive power and innovative strength that we need. British companies already account for over a quarter of the continent's defence industrial base."

Regarding the role of AI in militarisation, it is being described as compressing military kill chains from days to seconds, a shift that the Iran war has made impossible to ignore. But the technology is outpacing accountability: civilian harm frameworks have been dismantled, targeting lawyers fired, and over 1,200 Iranian civilians killed as the Pentagon prioritises lethality over deliberation. Britain has awarded 26 arms firms lucrative contracts to develop its own autonomous targeting systems - this is despite numerous atrocities in Gaza - and now, Iran - being linked with haphazard AI kill chain systems. Gaza has been a testing ground for AI in warfare. Drone Wars' Chris Cole has said: "While militaries are keen to use AI to speed up decision making around lethal strikes, there are serious ethical and legal concerns about these developments, with increasing evidence that ratcheting up the number of strikes leads to greater danger for civilians."

As well as the US effectively having over a dozen bases on British soil, Britain has bases abroad in connection with its colonial past. For example, in Cyprus, not only was the Akrotiri base targeted in the waves of retaliation against Britain's aggression, but the campaign of the people of Cyprus against the presence of British bases had been steadily growing since well before that. Britain also hosts four US spy facilities on Cyprus. The complicity of Starmer with the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza was also exposed when hundreds of surveillance flights were sent by Britain over Gaza from Akrotiri. Officially they were looking for hostages, but no evidence has ever been provided that they helped find any, raising concerns that Israel could have used intelligence from the planes for its general war effort. US military transport planes were also allowed to pass through Akrotiri en route to Israel.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has refused to disclose to the media or parliament how many Iranian civilians have been killed by US bombing missions from British air bases. Keir Starmer says that US strikes from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the British-occupied Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia were "to destroy [Iran's] missiles at source, in their storage depots or at their launchers".

With militarisation and the push to develop war industries, international norms and the international rule of law are counting for nothing, and it counts for nothing for governments like Britain's that Trump's wanton violence is carried out in pulverising these norms and laws, whatever Starmer may say.

For example, on January 7, United States military forces, supported by British forces, intercepted the oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean south of Iceland. The ship was sailed towards the UK, arrived in the Moray Firth on January 13 and anchored there in British territorial waters. Subsequently, the captain and first officer were removed from UK jurisdiction by the US Coastguard to face criminal charges in the United States. The British government agreed to a request from the US to provide support for repatriation of the remaining 26 members of the Bella 1 crew who had not been arrested (none of whom were UK nationals). The whole affair was conducted, as part of the US targeting of Venezuela and its oil shipments, in contravention of recognised international law.

The imposition of a blockade on Venezuela has been condemned by many sources, including UN experts and international lawyers: there is no right to enforce unilateral sanctions through an armed blockade. The US has broken the prohibition on the use force contained in the UN Charter and Britain has acted unlawfully by providing logistical and military support for the US action.

Protesters at the Munich Security Conference, February 14 2026

In the movement against militarisation and war, the working class and people have to work to consolidate themselves as the power to combat the warmongering, violence, dictate and militarism of the ruling elite. They must set their sights on constituting themselves as an Anti-War Government, and all that entails about authority and power resting with the people who desire peace. The youth must not be made cannon-fodder in the wars of the ruling elite and the armaments industry!

The anti-war movement is demanding that the government end its militarisation - to end all involvement in the US and Israel's war on Iran, including stopping the use of British bases here and in Cyprus for military attacks, and to join the growing international calls for an immediate end to the bombing. The anti-war movement truly has the crucial task of opposing the warmongering schemes of the British government, whether here in Britain, or with the self-titled "coalition of the willing" in the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, or in alliance with the US regime in the Middle East.

The resistance to Britain's militarisation is growing, and it is a central part of the Party's work to bring out and inspire the human factor/social consciousness in this transitional period of history. In that context, the implications of what an Anti-War Government mean present themselves to be elaborated. In a word, it means something new, something from which everyone can gain confidence, as they do more than simply react to the retrogression linked with the restructuring of the state to ensure that governments are constituted by oligarchs or representatives of those vested private interests. It can be seen that militarisation is not simply a rise in "defence spending", but is the road along which these oligarchs and governments are taking society. So the anti-war movement in its direction towards an Anti-War Government does more than react, or put its faith in a limited number of justly supported figures who take a stand against imperialist war, but works out ways to concretise how society must be organised so that sovereignty lies with the people and eventually political power is grasped, and the state acquires a modern democratic personality. The strength and future lies with the people as they break with the old conscience of society and fight for the alternative.

The call is for a modern state which enshrines the rights of all by virtue of being human and their concrete reality. The alternative is being created as working people themselves constitute the authority at each turn of events and decide directly how to intervene to make sure whatever the ruling class is implementing at their expense cannot succeed. This means that those who currently deprive the people of power must themselves be deprived of the power to rule with impunity.

Britain Urgently Needs an Anti-War Government!

Notes
1. Retrieved via AI.
2. Retrieved via AI.

(other sources: The Canary, Declassified, Drone Wars, CAAT, Workers' Weekly)