Keir Starmer has finally done something right - but it exposes a terrifying reality

This week marked the 219th anniversary of the , a battle which saw the British act independently to see off European foes and establish itself as a

The event was rightly remembered and celebrated, but victories of the past do not necessarily correlate with how wars will be won in the future.

The expected signing of a to cooperate on a variety of defence issues signals one thing: British military strength lies solely in our ability to operate as part of a collective.

Over the coming days, we will no doubt see the agreement criticised out of political opportunism or simply because it flies in the face of a nostalgic version of that does not match the modern-day reality.

But for decades, the ideals of western democracy have been defended by combined strength and that is the only way to deter the threat we currently face from .

The agreement called the Trinity House Agreement, from Scotland to aid in monitoring Russian submarines.

It will also see open a new factory in the UK to manufacture barrels for artillery guns.

The agreement is a thorough reboot of defence relations which have stalled following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.

The fact of the matter is, Britain is no longer the military force of the Victorian era and given our size, it is unlikely to ever be again.

, a miniscule force in the grand scheme of deterring Russian aggression, a country who has already lost over 600,000 troops in Ukraine.

Our security is therefore intertwined with integration with and as the possibility of war in Europe becomes a distinct threat, the deepening of ties with our allies in peacetime becomes crucial to our ability to operate in the event of conflict.

Russia is about to learn a difficult lesson as it deploys .

Inter-nation operations are more than a numbers game. To work effectively, they require an in depth understanding of one another's military doctrine, command structures, standard operating procedures, rules of engagement, strengths and capability gaps.

This can only be developed through years of training and operating together, something that this agreement looks set to increase.

The Trinity House Agreement is part of a wider project to closely align all aspects of defence, from supply chain to intelligence sharing and on the ground deployments.

It includes rehearsing how equipment is moved forwards and recovered backwards, and it is about ensuring that a Polish weapon can be used in a German armoured vehicle when fired by an Estonian who is then able to be evacuated on an American stretcher which fits in a .

Our lack of military independence might come as a shock to some and be met with dismay by others, but it doesn't make it any less true.

poses the biggest threat to the liberal world order since the Second World War and I don't think it is hyperbolic to say so.

As we meet this threat, there is no time for sentiment or to mourn the fall of British military supremacy, nor is it a time for political grandstanding.

Men such as only recognise aggression. The more credible and united NATO is, the more it is able to deter our adversaries.