Tobias Ellwood is a leading expert and commentator in the fields of foreign relations, military strategy, terrorism, defense, British politics, Ukraine, the Middle East, and NATO. His insights are informed by nearly two decades as a Member of Parliament (UK), during which he also served as Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, and Chair of the House of Commons Defense Committee. This extensive leadership placed him at the forefront of UK foreign relations and security policymaking.
Ellwood's distinguished career began long before his time in Parliament. As an officer in the British Army's Royal Green Jackets, he gained firsthand experience in military operations—experience that has deeply influenced his strategic approach to defense and international policy. Over the years, Ellwood's engagements have ranged from private tea with Vladimir Putin, where he observed the inner workings of Russian diplomacy, to working closely with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on critical Middle East policy initiatives.
Ellwood is a regular speaker at leading international forums and conferences including the Munich Security Conference, GLOBSEC, and the Warsaw Security Forum, among others. He is a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council and the Royal United Services Institute. In the UK, Ellwood frequently provides expert commentary on major media platforms, including the BBC, Al-Jazeera, and Sky News. His analysis has also been featured in leading publications such as The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Times, Politico, and on radio for Times Radio and LBC.
Ellwood’s personal tragedy in losing his brother in the Bali bombing has resulted in his deep understanding of Islamic extremism and terrorism. This was further underscored in 2017 during the Westminster terror attack when he courageously attempted to save the life of PC Keith Palmer. For his bravery that day, Ellwood was awarded membership of the Privy Council.
Born in New York, Ellwood holds dual UK/US nationality. He is currently completing a book on the demise of the global order and the threat of a world at war.
