Olivia O’Sullivan, Director of Chatham House’s UK in the World Programme, gave evidence to the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on 9 June, discussing the Integrated Security Fund, which aims to tackle high-priority threats to UK security.
During her evidence, Olivia discussed the UK’s changed strategic security outlook in the light of the massive contraction in global aid spending, and the difficult trade-offs facing the UK government.
Olivia O’Sullivan speaking at Parliament on 9 June 2026.
During her evidence she examined how the UK should plan to address immediate threats and long-term, complex risks; how the UK should balance defence priorities with conflict prevention and managing new and unanticipated threats; and how the government should prevent conflict-affected states becoming neglected in the new international aid landscape.
Addressing the focus of the Integrated Security Fund, Olivia said:
‘Looking forward we do have a good opportunity here for a fund that sits in the centre to respond to the way that security is changing, to make long-term plans and long-term investment. The question I would have for government is [how can we ensure] that in the wider FCDO restructure… that doesn’t get lost.’