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Joe Devanny

@joedevanny.bsky.social
3.6K followers 973 following 108 posts

Senior Lecturer | National Security & Cyber | Department of War Studies | King’s College London | All views mine, etc.

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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Andy Burnham will refresh Labour, but won’t change Britain’s statecraft. | Some thoughts from me on Labour/left statecraft questions as they relate to the incoming Burnham premiership. politicsandsecurity.substack.com/p/andy-burnh...
politicsandsecurity.substack.com
Andy Burnham will refresh Labour, but won’t change Britain’s statecraft
The Burnham premiership looks more likely to provide an opportunity for a Labour Party reset than it does a re-appraisal of national statecraft and strategy. But the two are intrinsically connected.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
In case of interest, I recently wrote a short piece for @labourlist.bsky.social, explaining some of the reasons behind Labour’s “slow motion defence crisis”. @warstudieskcl.bsky.social labourlist.org/2026/06/keir...
labourlist.org
'Keir Starmer's slow motion defence crisis' - LabourList
For a Prime Minister keen to frame national security as a core competence and part of his legacy, Starmer’s rhetoric has over-promised and the reality has been under-delivery.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Farage is a likely target for foreign intelligence agencies; any leading politician would be. Hack-and-leak is definitely a thing. But Ciaran Martin is right: you need to evidence these claims. Is there not already an understood playbook for politicians when they suspect espionage?
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Keir Starmer’s allies have argued that foreign policy is a reason for him to stay. But he cannot now provide the stable leadership that effective foreign policy, like anything else, requires. With thanks to Emma Burnell for publishing at Labour List. labourlist.org/2026/05/fore...
labourlist.org
'Foreign policy is not a reason to keep Keir Starmer in No.10' - LabourList
However it is done, searching for a new leader is the smarter foreign policy move than labouring under the dead weight of Starmer’s endgame.
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Peter Ricketts @lordrickettsp.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
The case I made on @BBCr4today at 0720 was this. The disclosure of all documents and messages relating to the Mandelson appointment is vital. But the ISC requirement here goes much wider and (perhaps inadvertently) risks collateral damage to UK diplomacy. isc.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...
isc.independent.gov.uk
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
This commentary rightly highlights the fluidity of national identities: they are contested, reshaped over time. The debate about defining Britishness as a national identity is also complex as the UK is a pluri-national state, & with many overlapping factors shaping personal identity experiences.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
This by @georgeeaton.bsky.social neatly summarises the Green Party’s NATO own goal. I wonder why they’ve persisted for so long with a stance more extreme, unworkable & presumably off-putting-to-voters, than they needed to in cementing the left-of-Labour vote. www.newstatesman.com/politics/gre...
newstatesman.com
The Greens’ defence problem
Why Zack Polanski will have to abandon his opposition to Nato
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The New Statesman @newstatesman1913.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
The green industrial revolution is coming 🖊️ Mariana Mazzucato and Anna Hope Emerson
newstatesman.com
The green industrial revolution is coming
But the government must make sure local communities feel the benefit
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
This is an interesting essay. I think two things missing are (1) assessment of international security risks posed by China and (2) the continuing importance of hard power, notwithstanding the value of pursuing broad multilateral and normative diplomacy.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Corbyn: “An independent foreign policy is one that understands all of the challenges we face: global inequality, displacement and environmental disaster.” Are they really *all* the UK’s challenges? And there’s an implicit assumption, I think, that greater moral clarity is enough to achieve outcomes.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Good @nytimes.com story about recent US use of cyber capabilities as part of integrated operations, particularly noteworthy emphasis on complementarity and the challenge of building a cyber force. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...
nytimes.com
How Computer Warfare Is Becoming Part of the Pentagon’s Arsenal
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
This is a persuasive case. I also think liberal democracies need to adopt a pro-active, aggressive threat-hunting approach to identifying and extirpating influence/information operations by hostile state actors. You could call it a campaigning, persistent engagement approach.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
If done well, and properly resourced, this could improve UK counter-cybercrime efforts.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
There’s a good case for a bicameral system leading to more considered legislation. If the elected first chamber employs a legitimacy argument against the unelected second, there’s an obvious solution that a government with a commanding majority could decide to pursue. What might it be?
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
I think much of what this oped advocates could be achieved without leaving NATO, and that leaving NATO would make the UK’s current situation worse. But its arguments about the need for the UK to reduce reliance on the US are fair.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Worth separating the fact that it could well be smart politics domestically for Polanski to secure this NS oped today, harnessing anti-Trump sentiment as Starmer tries to walk a tight rope, & that some of his arguments (unilateral abolition of nuclear deterrent), are much less smart for UK strategy.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Definitely worth reading this alongside listening to @thegrugq.bsky.social & Tom Uren’s recent discussion of the same topic - role of cyber capabilities in the Venezuela raid. Top line: cyber operations contributed, that wasn’t surprising, & shouldn’t be the main takeaway from the raid.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
I think, if you are under fire for lots of U-turns, you should reflect before you repeatedly use the phrase “we are turning the country around.” And around. And around.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
This is persuasive, both re: the U-turns and also in the other recent stories about different policy/strategy views emerging in the leadership challenge conversations, and new initiatives to foster intellectual debates across the party. They all highlight the shortcomings of the current centre.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
This is a good report about Iranian government efforts to control internet access, including the most recent and most severe cut off during the current protests.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
And you need for your MPs to not be increasingly of the view that you yourself are, in fact, a barnacle.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
This is an interesting analysis of how treaty commitments would shape NATO member states’ responses to a US attack on Denmark. I wonder about the likelihood of a different scenario - not an attack but a declared fait accompli - and what the response of Denmark’s allies would be in practice.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
This is a good report on the latest details about the emerging UK government cyber security refresh, with good expert comments too. The language is positive, but I think Jamie sounds the right note of scepticism in his quoted remarks.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Nothing says Christmas week like sitting down to read about the ghosts of cybersecurity strategies past, present, and yet to come. With thanks to @lawfaremedia.org for publishing.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 20/12/2025
Two more examples: shielded Jonathan Powell from all but one begrudging private JCNSS meeting (no good reason not to appear, it’s just because he can); & recent ISC report indicates its budget/staff/remit could/should be better. Quick wins for a government serious about doing scrutiny better.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 20/12/2025
The big aid cut was always going to have international security implications, once decisions started to be made about where it fell. Is this the first reported impact on the UK’s international cyber priorities too?
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Joe Tidy BBC News @joetidy.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Exclusive: The UK's elections watchdog says it's taken three years and at least a quarter of a million pounds to fully recover from a hack that saw the private details of 40m voters accessed by Chinese cyber spies. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Latest News Picks - Elections watchdog: Three years to recover from hack - BBC Sounds
Chinese cyber spies targeted the Electoral Commission, accessing UK voters' details.
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War Studies @warstudieskcl.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social invited experts to discuss strengthening UK cyber defences ahead of the new cyber strategy. Dr @joedevanny.bsky.social emphasises doing more with existing resources through strategic collaboration across government, industry & international partners. 🔗Read: bit.ly/423GwQT
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War Studies @warstudieskcl.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Dr Joe Devanny (@joedevanny.bsky.social) explains that "using #foreignfighters is a way for #Russia to increase numbers while mitigating the domestic costs of the war." However, he adds that many have been recruited through coercion and false promises. 🔗Read more: bit.ly/4mR1eeL #UkraineWar
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War Studies @warstudieskcl.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
How can #disinformation shape public perception? A report claiming Russia captured UK operatives was false. The image was AI-generated; the individuals don’t exist. "Disinformation doesn't need to be sophisticated to have an impact." - Dr @joedevanny.bsky.social. Read more: 🔗 bit.ly/4mFOdEQ
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
Another interesting @washingtonpost.com tech story from this weekend, this time a Catholic chatbot. www.washingtonpost.com/religion/202...
washingtonpost.com
A Catholic AI app promises answers for the faithful. Can it succeed?
It’s like ChatGPT for Catholicism, but the only sources for this large language model are 27,000 documents connected to the church.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
A very nostalgic read for people of a certain age, symbolising how the internet changed media consumption incredibly quickly.
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War Studies @warstudieskcl.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
💭 In this commentary for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Dr Joe Devanny considers how effectively international efforts are improving global cyber diplomacy 👇 🔗 bit.ly/3ISa9xS #CyberDiplomacy #DigitalDiplomacy @carnegieendowment.org @joedevanny.bsky.social
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War Studies @warstudieskcl.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Is Putin preparing to challenge Europe within three years? Dr @joedevanny.bsky.social highlights the deterrent effect of NATO, stating: "There is a difference between Putin being “ready” to use military force against Nato and his actually deciding to do it". Read more: bit.ly/3ZXE9Os
bit.ly
Putin could attack Europe within three years, warns senior Nato official
Russia may look to launch an assault on a European country far sooner than expected, one of Britain's most experienced military figures has warned
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RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
The SDR outlines sensible steps to improve defence in the cyber domain. But it leaves details to be developed, particularly about how the UK should operate in cyberspace, writes @joedevanny.bsky.social.
rusi.org
Cyber and the Strategic Defence Review: All Pervasive But Light on Details
The SDR outlines a series of sensible steps to improve the coherence of defence in the cyber domain. But it leaves a lot of details to be developed in implementation, particularly about how the UK sho...
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
London was looking nice today from atop Bush House, for the @warstudieskcl.bsky.social undergraduate open day.
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War Studies @warstudieskcl.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Dr @joedevanny.bsky.social explores the complex challenges facing the Omagh Bombing Inquiry: “There is huge expectation on the Inquiry, but it faces the very difficult task of making contextually complex, historical judgements." @instituteforgov.bsky.social Learn more: bit.ly/4lG3h5M
bit.ly
The Omagh Bombing Inquiry faces very difficult historical challenges | Institute for Government
The Omagh Inquiry must make judgments about events of a quarter century ago.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
UK election interference threat grows after Trump's cyber defence cuts | Alongside others, I spoke to @richardholmes.bsky.social for this @theipaper.com article, inews.co.uk/news/uk-elec...
inews.co.uk
UK election interference threat grows after Trump's cyber defence cuts
Security experts warn that US cuts to elite cyber security units mean joint operations to protect elections and politicians will be jeopardised
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
@tonycomer.bsky.social
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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 09/04/2025
There is huge expectation on the Omagh Bombing Inquiry but it faces a very difficult task of contextually complex, historical judgement. Read our latest guest comment from @joedevanny.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/omag...
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
The Omagh Bombing Inquiry faces very difficult historical challenges | Institute for Government
The Omagh Inquiry must make judgments about events of a quarter century ago.
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Alexander Martin @alexmartin.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
So it turns out a delegate from the U.S. National Security Council managed to fluster quite a few European counterparts by suggesting the U.S. might take lethal action against irresponsible spyware companies during the Pall Mall Process conference in Paris last week...
therecord.media
As spyware market continues to expand, diplomatic Pall Mall Process hits a pivot point
The Pall Mall Process — a diplomatic initiative designed to reform the commercial spyware and hacking market — has added more nations as it confronts an industry that is more complex than ever.
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RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
📺South Africa, like other middle ground nations, must navigate the differences in how democratic and authoritarian countries want to regulate the internet. What are its global cybersecurity policies, and what's unique about its cyber statecraft? Full video on our website: bit.ly/4iYzweH
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
One striking thing in memoirs from Trump 1.0 is how destabilised the admin was by vying for influence. Specifics may be surprising, but the broader trend isn’t. Which isn’t to say this trend is good. Difficult to see how any admin would benefit from this disorder.
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European Initiative for Security Studies (EISS) @eissnetwork.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
🚨We are thrilled to share a new paper on India’s Cyber Statecraft by #EISS Technology Coordinator @apb-laudrain.bsky.social & @joedevanny.bsky.social for @carnegieendowment.org The paper is part of EPSRC-Dstl Cyber Statecraft Proj 🔗 Read the full text here: carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
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Drag0nR3b0rn @drag0nr3b0rn.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
In a new paper with @joedevanny.bsky.social for @lawfare.bsky.social, we use the "Pacific Rim" campaign by @sophossecurity.bsky.social as an opportunity to further the understanding of norms of responsible behavior in cyberspace and counter-cyber operations (CCO)/active cyber defense (ACD). 🧵/5
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Lawfare @lawfaremedia.org · 18/03/2025
Sophos, a developer of endpoint protection software, recently disclosed its active cyber defense campaign, Pacific Rim. Michael Genkin and @joedevanny.bsky.social explore why the campaign was effective and what lessons it has for responding to threat actors in the future.
lawfaremedia.org
The ‘Pacific Rim’ Campaign: Corporate Norm Entrepreneurship and Active Cyber Defense
Sophos’s account of its recent active cyber defense campaign can help shape norms of “responsible behavior” in cyberspace.
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Allies and cyber operations: UK implications of a reported Trump/Russia decision | A quick post about how decisions in US cyber strategy can affect UK cyber statecraft | joedevanny.substack.com/p/allies-and...
joedevanny.substack.com
Allies and cyber operations
UK implications of a reported Trump/Russia decision
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Valtteri Vuorisalo @valtterivuorisalo.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
In today’s @kauppalehti.bsky.social, I discuss how access to IT should not be taken for granted. We need to consider the possibility that access to IT will also be utilized as a tool for great power politics. @warstudieskcl.bsky.social @mikaaaltola.bsky.social @joedevanny.bsky.social
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Joe Devanny @joedevanny.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
Interesting to think through the decision from Trump’s perspective. Vetoing this deal doesn’t exclude a future deal, so is there reason to think a future deal would likely be worse for the US, or that Starmer’s string of negative hypotheticals would likely occur in the meantime?
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