Episode Description

In this episode of All Quiet on the Second Front, Tyler Sweatt is joined by Fred Thomas, UK Member of Parliament for Plymouth Moor View, Royal Marines Reservist, and member of the House of Commons Defence Committee.

Fred brings a perspective shaped by time in uniform and now inside Parliament, where he focuses on modernizing defense capability and accelerating the adoption of new technology. Together, they examine how allied defense ecosystems can move faster without sacrificing sovereignty, why procurement and information-sharing remain persistent friction points, and where NATO and partner nations have real opportunity to collaborate more effectively.

The conversation spans the UK, US, and broader NATO landscape at a moment when security, technology, and public trust are increasingly intertwined.

What’s happening on the Second Front

• Why defense innovation continues to lag behind the threat
• The tension between sovereignty and interoperability across allied nations
• NATO’s underutilized role in collaborative procurement
• Where emerging technologies could unlock advantage in the next 3–5 years
• The role of public service and cohesion in long-term security

Connect with Fred Thomas, MP