On 19 November 2014, the Centre for Political and Foreign Affairs (CPFA) in Paris hosted General Lord Richard Dannatt, former Chief of the General Staff of the British Army, for a discussion moderated by Renaud Girard. The event formed part of CPFA’s efforts to engage senior military leaders in dialogue on global security and strategic affairs.

Lord Dannatt, who served as head of the British Army from 2006 to 2009, shared his perspectives on international security challenges, the lessons of military intervention, and the evolving role of armed forces in contemporary conflicts. His remarks drew on decades of military experience, with particular reference to Britain’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan and the wider implications for Western strategy in unstable regions.

The session gathered policymakers and experts, providing a platform for examining the intersection of military strategy and political decision-making. Dannatt’s intervention highlighted the limits of military power in achieving long-term stability, while also emphasising the continuing necessity of credible defence capabilities in a world of persistent and complex threats.