By Javier  VILLAMOR

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While Europe was preaching sacrifice and solidarity with Ukraine, a number of its leaders were forging profitable ties around the war effort. Behind the moral language of “defending democracy” lay a network of favors, contracts, and donations that helps explain why the conflict continues with no clear end in sight.

The case of former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and businessman Christopher Harborne, the largest individual shareholder in QinetiQ, the British defense and technology firm, illustrates the increasingly blurred lines between politics, industry, and influence. What began as a transparent political donation evolved into a partnership of mutual benefit—one that connects public messaging, private capital, and government contracts. This is what is called “The Johnson files”.

In November 2022, Christopher Harborne, a businessman and financier with residences in London, Thailand, and Monaco, donated £1 million to Boris Johnson, according to the UK Electoral Commission. The gesture would have raised a few eyebrows had Harborne not been the largest private shareholder in QinetiQ, a company created in the early 2000s from the partial privatization of the Ministry of Defence.

QinetiQ specializes in defense, intelligence, and technological systems. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, it has become one of the UK’s key military suppliers, providing drones, sensors, and artillery systems through a series of government contracts.

Shortly after the donation, Johnson and Harborne held a private meeting in London, described internally as a “Ukraine briefing.” In January 2023, they undertook a joint trip to Ukraine, during which Harborne was officially listed as “Advisor, Office of Boris Johnson,” according to documentation reviewed for this report.

They met with Ukrainian officials in Kyiv and Lviv and visited a military and technology research center. Harborne’s role went beyond that of a companion: he acted as a business intermediary and investor, using Johnson’s political and media visibility to explore new opportunities in the defense sector.

QinetiQ: from public research arm to defense powerhouse

Founded in 2001 after the split of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), QinetiQ has become a central actor in Britain’s defense ecosystem. Its product range spans radar, surveillance, and weapons testing, as well as artificial intelligence applications for combat.

During the war in Ukraine, QinetiQ’s profits rose sharply thanks to contracts with the UK government and NATO partners. In July 2025, London approved the accelerated delivery of 85,000 drones and artillery systems valued at more than £150 million.

Each new tranche of military aid coincided with a renewed media presence for Johnson, who had taken on a public role as one of Kyiv’s most vocal international supporters.

The link between Harborne’s business interests and Johnson’s post-premiership advocacy underscores how political access and industry priorities can align in times of conflict.

The “Lobby Lines”: coordinating the message

Internal documents from Johnson’s circle and the British government—obtained exclusively by europeanconservative.com—reveal how tightly controlled communications around Ukraine became during 2022 and 2023.

Official talking points from 21 September 2022 instructed government spokespeople to say:

Reports of mass graves in recently liberated areas such as Izyum are appalling … Those responsible for war crimes will be held accountable, and the United Kingdom will continue supporting both the Ukrainian authorities and the International Criminal Court.

Further down, the same briefing outlined the UK’s commitment to double its military assistance to Ukraine, including “multiple-launch rocket systems that have made a game-changing difference on the battlefield.”

That same day, London announced an additional £2.3 billion in defense support for Kyiv. Among the primary beneficiaries of those contracts was QinetiQ.

The documents show how humanitarian language often accompanied—and justified—large-scale defense spending, with private contractors standing to benefit from every new policy announcement.

Johnson’s advocacy role

After leaving office, Boris Johnson reinvented himself as one of the West’s most prominent defenders of Ukraine. From North America to Eastern Europe, his message was consistent: more weapons, no negotiations, and a commitment to “victory.”

Another internal document, outlining Questions & Answers for Johnson’s Ukraine communications, contained the following statement under his name:

The only way to end this war is for Ukraine to win—and to win as fast as possible. This is the moment to double down and give the Ukrainians all the tools they need to finish the job. The sooner Putin fails, the better for Ukraine and for the world.

The alignment between this message and the broader defense policy pursued by London was evident. Sources familiar with early wartime diplomacy confirm that Johnson urged President Zelensky not to pursue negotiations with Moscow in 2022, a stance consistent with his later speeches and media appearances.

By leveraging his international reputation, Johnson effectively became an unofficial advocate for Britain’s defense establishment, amplifying positions that reinforced the need for continued arms support.

Johnson and Harborne’s September 2023 trip to Ukraine was publicly presented as a gesture of solidarity, but, according to internal itineraries, served a dual purpose: diplomacy and networking.

The pair met senior Ukrainian officials and toured a defense innovation facility in Lviv. Harborne, listed as “personal adviser,” held meetings with representatives of local technology firms and the defense ministry.

Reports later confirmed that Harborne pursued discussions on technology-transfer partnerships and drone-production projects. Such access, both logistical and political, would have been difficult without Johnson’s involvement.

The episode reflects a broader pattern in Western diplomacy—a convergence of political visibility and private-sector interests, where the lines between advocacy, consulting, and lobbying are increasingly blurred.

Europe and the politics of permanent emergency

The Johnson–Harborne case fits into a wider European context.In recent years, the European Union has reframed the war in Ukraine as a moral and strategic consensus, with limited space for public debate.

In 2024, the European Parliament approved more than €50 billion in military assistance, while the European Commission expanded the European Defence Fund to channel subsidies directly to major defense firms — among them British-linked companies like QinetiQ.

The result is a European defense policy increasingly tied to transatlantic industrial interests. Each new aid package strengthens NATO’s industrial base, but also deepens the EU’s reliance on it.

For politicians, support for Ukraine has become a test of moral conviction; for defense suppliers, it has ensured unprecedented growth.

Harborne: The global investor

A known donor to the Conservative Party and to the Brexit campaign, Christopher Harborne exemplifies the global investor whose activities span continents and sectors. His portfolio includes aviation firms, Asian technology funds, and defense holdings. During the war, his investment in QinetiQ rose more than 30%, driven by surging demand for military systems.

Harborne’s relationship with Johnson offered a rare mix of political access and media visibility. The former prime minister, seeking to maintain influence after office, found in Harborne both a financial ally and an ideological supporter of an assertive British foreign policy.

The arrangement benefited both: Johnson gained renewed stature; Harborne, proximity to decision-makers and information channels tied to UK and NATO defense policy.

War has created not only frontlines but also new ecosystems of communication, consultancy, and advocacy.

Johnson’s speeches followed patterns nearly identical to official government communications—concise, emotional, and focused on moral clarity over strategic complexity.

Our thoughts are with the brave people of Ukraine… The United Kingdom will match its military aid next year to demonstrate our steadfast commitment.

This type of message prioritizes unity and determination, but it also illustrates how political messaging and defense policy have become intertwined.

Europe’s strategic dependence

From Brussels to London, Europe’s foreign policy has increasingly aligned with Washington’s priorities and NATO’s defense agenda.

The Ukrainian conflict has accelerated a shift toward permanent rearmament and renewed dependence on imported energy and technology. For governments facing internal crises, the war has served as both a distraction and stimulus—reviving industrial sectors while redirecting public debate.

The long-term outcome is a continent where security policy and economic policy now overlap almost completely.

The Johnson–Harborne–QinetiQ case offers a detailed look into how political influence, corporate interests, and national strategy can converge during times of conflict. A £1 million donation may seem modest in the context of global defense budgets, yet it illuminates the mechanisms through which access, messaging, and business intersect.

Original article:  europeanconservative.com