February 26, 2026
The Ronald Reagan Institute Co-Hosts Reagan-Jackson Security Dialogue in Cambridge, UK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2026
The Ronald Reagan Institute Co-Hosts Reagan-Jackson Security Dialogue in Cambridge, UK
The convening explored critical transatlantic security challenges amidst shifting political dynamics.
CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom — The Ronald Reagan Institute, in partnership with the Henry Jackson Society, hosted the third Reagan-Jackson Security Dialogue on February 18-19, 2026, bringing together elected officials and thought leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to address pressing foreign policy and national security issues. Held in Cambridge, UK, the conference brought together members of the US Congress and UK Parliament, former senior government officials, and other key stakeholders from both the US and UK national security communities. Discussions focused on policies to strengthen allied national security in the face of the evolving global threat environment and shifting political dynamics.
“At a time of growing global challenges, the United States and United Kingdom must remain closely aligned in defending freedom and advancing peace through strength,” said Roger Zakheim, Director of the Ronald Reagan Institute. “We are proud of our work with the Henry Jackson Society to foster those vital personal relationships that undergird the US-UK special relationship, underscored by President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s example.”
The conference highlighted the importance of advancing transatlantic coordination amidst persistent geopolitical uncertainty in several regions of the world. Conversations spanned the current state of the alliance, the ongoing war in Ukraine, unrest in the Middle East, and the growing strategic competition with China. The partnership between two of the world’s strongest democracies and economies endures as vitally important, however it requires sustained effort to ensure its vibrance and continued relevance in the face of emerging challenges and opportunities.
While conference participants represented diverse views and backgrounds, the Reagan Institute’s takeaways included:
1. The Special Relationship at a Strategic Inflection Point: The US-UK relationship rests on unusually deep foundations: both countries are NATO allies, Five Eyes partners, nuclear powers, and nations bound by a common language, history, and political culture. But these strengths do not eliminate real differences in threat perception and strategic prioritization—especially in how Washington and London weigh the urgency of the Russia challenge relative to the China challenge. The discussion made clear that allied alignment still requires active political work, not just inherited affinity.
2. Transatlantic Cooperation on China: The United States and United Kingdom must take both military deterrence and economic de-risking against China more seriously, including reducing China’s reverse leverage over critical sectors. Discussions considered each country’s role in the Indo-Pacific, emphasizing that a Taiwan crisis would create unavoidable political and economic pressure for Britain to join America in responding.
3. Achieving Peace in Ukraine and Sustaining Post-War Security in Europe: Any discussion of a just and durable peace must be tied to restoring deterrence in Europe. Sustaining support for Ukraine requires public trust—especially in the United States, where concerns persist about the cost of aid and where the money is going. Ukraine’s allies must at once impose greater costs on Russian aggression and make a clear, persuasive case to their own citizens that supporting Ukraine is essential to preventing a wider war in Europe. More broadly, how the war in Ukraine is resolved will have significant implications for the Indo-Pacific.
4. Innovation and the Changing Nature of Warfare: New technologies are making conflict faster, broader, and harder to contain—especially in cyber and information warfare, where adversaries can use AI tools to undermine public will and exploit vulnerabilities across everyday connected systems. These technologies also make sovereign territory more vulnerable to attack, meaning conflict is no longer confined to distant battlefields. Democratic countries will need streamlined procurement processes, stronger tools, and steadier strategy to preserve deterrence in this environment.
5. Peace Through Strength in the Middle East: The US and UK must not only stop Iran’s nuclear program but also curb its missile development and support for terrorist proxies. American and British policymakers need to think more clearly about what comes next if the Iranian regime weakens or is deposed. Peace through strength in the Middle East requires sustained allied presence, stronger support for the Iranian people, and closer US-UK alignment on what strategic success should look like.
As President Reagan said in 1981, “Roosevelt and Churchill, Attlee and Truman, Eisenhower and Macmillan – these names inseparably linked in recent history – the legacy of their relationships is nothing less than the security and the freedom enjoyed by our nations today. We will continue in this great tradition, not only because it’s essential but also because our two peoples expect and insist on it.”
About the Ronald Reagan Foundation & Institute
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (RRPFI) is the sole nonprofit organization created by President Reagan charged with advancing his legacy and principles – individual liberty, economic opportunity, freedom and democracy, peace through strength, and national pride.
A globally recognized nonpartisan organization based in Simi Valley, CA, with a leading policy institute in Washington, DC, RRPFI delivers impactful public affairs programming, policy convenings and projects of national and international significance, scholarly initiatives, and distinctive educational programs shaping the perspectives of middle, high school, and college students.
In addition, RRPFI sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, the largest and most visited presidential library. A leading cultural institution, RRPFI houses a remarkable 125,000 square foot museum with unique historical pieces that tells the story of Ronald Reagan’s life, presidency, and enduring impact, and hosts world-class special exhibitions.
Contact:
Melissa Giller; mgiller@reaganfoundation.org