The former head of Britain’s armed forces, General Sir Nick Carter, is facing criticism over his advisory role with Israeli arms firms, raising concerns about ethical and political implications amid Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza.
General Carter, who served as Chief of the Defence Staff from 2018 to 2021, played a pivotal role in strengthening UK-Israel military relations. Months before stepping down, he signed a military cooperation agreement with Israel, a deal hailed as a milestone in defense collaboration. However, details of the pact remain undisclosed despite parliamentary inquiries and freedom of information requests.
Now, Carter is advising Exigent Capital, a Jerusalem-based financial services firm that provides strategic consulting to Israeli defense companies. According to the company’s website, his role focuses on “developing international growth strategies” and “opening doors to new business opportunities.” In December 2024, before a ceasefire was reached in Gaza, he attended a military technology summit in Tel Aviv, where he praised Israeli defense firms for their “extraordinary innovation.”
Carter’s involvement in Israel’s defense sector comes at a time when Israel’s Prime Minister is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the UK government faces growing pressure to reassess its military ties with the country. The British military has purchased Israeli-made drones, rifle sights, and air defense systems, further entrenching defense links between the two nations.
His past comments highlight a deep appreciation for Israeli military strategy. Reflecting on past conflicts, he stated that Western armies “learned a lot” from Israel’s military campaigns, including the controversial 1982 invasion of Lebanon, which prompted a UK arms embargo.
Ethical Concerns and Calls for Transparency
Human rights groups and political analysts have raised alarms over Carter’s transition from public service to private defense consultancy, a move critics describe as an example of the “revolving door” between government and corporate interests.
Dr. Sara Husseini, director of the British Palestinian Committee, told UK Declassified: “That the UK’s former chief of the defence staff is now advising Israeli arms companies exemplifies the extent of the links between the British state and Israel’s arms industry. These revelations are deeply concerning, particularly as Israel resumes large-scale bombardments in Gaza, which have resulted in over 400 Palestinian deaths in just two days.”
Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, also questioned the ethics of former defense officials engaging with foreign arms industries, particularly in nations accused of human rights violations. “Serious questions arise from former defense officials working with arms companies in states that have a track record of serious violations of international law,” Doyle said.
Arms trade expert Andrew Feinstein from Shadow World Investigations noted that Carter’s new position raises broader concerns about accountability. “It raises the question of whose interests the most senior political and military figures are working in: their own material interests, or the interests of Britain?”
Regulatory Loopholes
Under UK government rules, former military generals must report new job offers to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) for two years after leaving service to prevent conflicts of interest. However, Carter did not disclose his role at Exigent Capital to ACOBA. The timeline of his employment remains unclear, but a LinkedIn post by Exigent indicated that Carter had joined the company at least three months ago.
Carter has held multiple advisory positions since leaving the army in July 2022, including roles at Schroders Bank, Helsing (a German AI defense start-up), and an insurance firm. He also serves as a consultant to former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and as chairman of Equilibrium Gulf Limited, which advises the Crown Prince of Bahrain on security matters.
Lord Pickles, who oversees ACOBA, has acknowledged flaws in the current regulatory framework, stating last year: “The system is bust and needs fixing.”
As scrutiny over Carter’s activities grows, calls are mounting for greater oversight of high-ranking military officials transitioning into private defense roles. Amid rising concerns over Britain’s defense ties with Israel, critics argue that the government must ensure greater transparency and accountability in military-to-private sector career moves.
