Politicians talk endlessly about defence spending, weapons, and armies. But the first line of defence in any country is not military hardware. It is the stability of the society itself.
Do people feel secure?
Do they trust their institutions?
Do they believe government works for them?
When living standards fall, housing becomes unaffordable, and public services collapse, a country becomes divided and fragile. And a fragile society cannot defend itself.
At a time when global tensions are rising and economic shocks are becoming more common, resilience at home may be the most important defence strategy of all.
In this video, I explain why national security begins with social security and public trust.