London Defence Conference: Defining the Agenda on Global Security
The London Defence Conference is the geopolitical gathering of friendly and allied nations bringing together leaders, policymakers, military, academia, industry and select media to discuss the most pressing issues in global security. Attendance is by invitation only.
Held in the heart of Britain’s capital city each spring, the LDC has hosted heads of state, prime ministers, defence secretaries, ministers, members of the US Congress, chiefs of defence and other prominent figures at the forefront of defence and global security. In partnership with leading think tanks and media organisations, including Sky News, the LDC has established itself as a trusted annual gathering.
Founded in 2022 in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the LDC is committed to strengthening defence in the light of evolving threats from authoritarian regimes.
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To get in touch, please email us at info@londondefenceconference.com
LDC Washington Forum
The London Defence Conference hosts its annual LDC Washington Forum every Autumn/Fall in partnership with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC).
The transatlantic relationship is at the heart of our work and this one day event presents the opportunity for conversations with our American friends and other key allies.
LDC Washington 2026 will take place on 23 September with the theme Winning Future Wars. Over the course of a day of panel discussions, keynote speeches and side sessions we will look at the imbalance of conventional force against new technology improvised at speed and how we can deter and defeat future adversaries.
For more details, please email info@londondefenceconference.com
LDC Investment Forum
The LDC Investment Forum is the annual event held in the heart of the City of London where we bring together policymakers, military, investors and industry.
In 2025 the Forum’s theme was “Getting to 5%: Strengthening European Defence Investment”. Discussions focused on how to reach the NATO members’ target of spending 3.5% on defence plus 1.5% on national resilience. Key topics included the role of private investment in the defence sector, the use of innovation to achieve greater capabilities, and the UK’s preparedness for current threats. The event was opened by UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard.
Planning for the LDC Investment Forum 2026 is already underway with the Forum taking place in early December.
For more details about how you can get involved, please email info@londondefenceconference.com
Headline Sponsors 2026
Supporters
Our Partnership Network
SME Network
Digital Agency Partner
Official Media Partner
Data Partner
Become a headline sponsor or supporter
Our work is made possible through the generous support of sponsors drawn from industry and finance, alongside a partnership network of leading research institutions and international think tanks.
We offer several tiers of sponsorship for each of our events. In all cases sponsorship offers the opportunity for sponsors to bring a guest delegation and to have visible branding, plus more benefits depending on the level and the event.
For specific details of sponsorship please contact Georgie Krone, Head of Sponsorship and Partnerships: georgina@londondefenceconference.com
Our History
The London Defence Conference is the annual geopolitical gathering held in central London. It was established in 2022 following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The LDC is a conference of friendly countries dedicated to increasing the salience and visibility of defence and security in an increasingly dangerous global environment.
Moderators
Mark Urban
Lord Hague
Deborah Haynes
Shashank Joshi
Adam Boulton
James Landale
Speakers and Panellists
Grant Shapps
Former Secretary of State for Defence
John Healey
Secretary of State for Defence
David Lammy
Foreign Secretary
Oliver Dowden
Former Deputy Prime Minister
Albin Kurti
Kosovo Prime Minister
Radek Sikorski
Foreign Minister of Poland
Professor Niall Ferguson
Professor Margaret Macmillan
Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman
Dr Benedetta Berti
Dr Jade McGlynn
Professor Rory Medcalf
Henrik Landerholm
Professor Steve Tsang
George Magnus
Charles Parton MBE
Frank Miller
Professor Marina Henke
Dr Kristin ven Bruusgaard
Professor Sir David Omand
Jack Watling
Air Chief Marshal The Lord Peach KG GBE KCB DL
Lieutenant General Andrew Harrison DSO MBE
James Shinn
Dr Ulrike Franke
Louis Mosley
Richard Norman
Fabian Zuleeg
Whitney Stanco
John Harrison
Justin Bassi
Dina Esfandiary
Walter Russell Mead
Mark Dubowitz
Ambassador Kevin Rudd
The Organising Committee
Lord Salisbury
Chairman of the London Defence Conference.
Professor John Gearson
Head of the School of Security Studies, King’s College London, Professor of National Security Studies, and Director of the Centre for Defence Studies in the Department of War Studies.
Niall Barr
Professor of Military History in the Defence Studies Department, King’s College London.
Iain Martin
Director of the London Defence Conference.
Neil Brown
Commodore RN (Rtd), Chief Geopolitical Strategist, Deltroit Asset Management, Distinguished Fellow, Council on Geostrategy.
Hillary Briffa
Senior Lecturer in National Security Studies, and Assistant Director of the Centre for Defence Studies in the Department of War Studies, King's College London.
LDC Papers 2025
Alliances under pressure
A member of the London Defence Conference organising committee maps out the terrain being explored at LDC 2025 and poses the key questions we want our expert panels and delegates to address.
Recruitment
London Defence Conference Intern
Location: London
Organisation: London Defence Conference
Job type: 3-month internship
Start date: 17th February 2025
Salary: NLW
About Us:
The London Defence Conference (LDC) is a geopolitical gathering of
friendly countries dedicated to increasing the salience and visibility of defence and security in an increasingly dangerous global environment. It was established in 2022 following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We are dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering dialogue on critical issues related to defence, national and global security. Our dynamic team is committed to excellence and innovation in every aspect of our work.
Job Description:
We are seeking a highly organised and creative individual to join our
team as a project coordinator intern. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in defence, security and politics, as well as have experience in planning and executing events.
Key Responsibilities:
Assisting in the planning and execution of our conference, including registration, panel discussions and side events. On behalf of the Director of LDC and other key members of the team, engaging with influential stakeholders including politicians, military, senior
industry professionals and academics. Supporting event logistics and on-the-day operations.
Skills:
- Political acumen – strong interest in national security, defence and
political events. - Highly organised – excellent attention to detail and time management.
- Communication – ability to communicate clearly and politely and work well with others to build connections.
- Problem solver – ability to stay calm under pressure and demonstrate creative solutions.
Qualifications:
Ideally the successful candidate will have a degree in a relevant field (e.g., War Studies, International Relations, History, Political Science,
or related disciplines) but we will consider candidates with alternative experience.
Why Join Us:
- Be part of a dynamic and unique organisation.
- Opportunity to work with leading experts in national security and defence.
- Gain hands on experience in a meaningful project that impacts national and global security.
- Potential for a full-time role upon successful completion of the internship.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV and a cover letter detailing their qualifications and interest in the position to katrina@londondefenceconference.com. Please include “LDC Internship” in the subject line.
Application Deadline: Friday 31st January 2025
London Defence Conference is an equal opportunities employer.
Contact
To contact the London Defence Conference team email