Much awaited UK’s military and foreign policy review, “Global Britain in Competitive Age” that Premier Boris Johnson announced, indicates, in no uncertain terms, the future trajectories that Premier Boris Johnson intends to lead Britain in the coming decades, following its hard-won freedom from its largest trading partner, the EU.
“Protecting our people, our homeland and our democracy is the first duty of any government, so I have begun the biggest programme of investment in defence since the end of the Cold War. This will demonstrate to our allies, in Europe and beyond, that they can always count on the UK when it really matters.
We will exceed our manifesto and NATO spending commitments, with defence spending now standing at 2.2% of GDP, and drive forward a modernisation programme that embraces the newer domains of cyber and space, equipping our armed forces with cutting-edge technology.
And we will continue to defend the integrity of our nation against state threats, whether in the form of illicit finance or coercive economic measures, disinformation, cyber-attacks, electoral interference or even – three years after the Salisbury attack – the use of chemical or other weapons of mass destruction. “British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, writing a forward to the “ Global Britain in Competitive Age” , review of British military and Foreign Policy, outlining major areas that the UK will make substantial investments in.
According to the report, the UK consider Russia as its top security challenge and the UK will make substantial investments in realms of defense, high-tech and space and cyberspace to protect its interests.
Augmented Defense Sector
To accomplish its aims and objectives, the British government wants to augment its defense spending by £24 billion ($33.3 billion) over the next four years, a substantial amount compared to the £42.2 billion that it spent in 2019-2020.
The government also plans out massive investments in tens of billions of pounds in other areas. This include £15 billion for research and development for science and technology, over £17 billion to fight climate change, for environment protection and promote biodiversity, and another £13 billion against the coronavirus.
Among other things, the document reiterates the UK’s defense and economic partnerships with the US, Britain’s importance on the world. The UK also reaffirms its strong commitment to the NATO alliance.
Furthermore, the UK promises to expand and extend its role worldwide, while recognising the fact that its focus, primarily, would be on the Indo-Pacific region in the coming decades.
It is obvious that Britain would plan to counter possible treats posed by rising China and its increasing assertive foreign policy from that region.
“China’s increasing power and international assertiveness is likely to be the most significant geopolitical factor of the 2020s,” the review says, labelling China as “the biggest state-based threat to the UK’s economic security.”
Human rights violations
Speaking in parliament following the release of the report, Johnson criticised China for its mass detention of Uyghur people in Xinjiang province and treatment of democracy advocates in Hong Kong. However, he said that the London must work with Beijing to solve global issues.
“There is no question that China will pose a great challenge to an open society such as ours, but we also work with China where that is consistent with our values and interests including building a strong and positive economic relationship and in addressing climate change,” Johnson said.
The document is critical of Russia’s role on the world stage and it says, “Russia will remain the most acute direct threat to the UK”.
“Russia is the most acute threat in the region and we will work with NATO Allies to ensure a united Western response, combining military, intelligence and diplomatic efforts,”
The UK government will work within the alliance to “deter nuclear, conventional and hybrid threats to our security, particularly from Russia.”
In boosting its military capabilities and upgrading its military, among other steps, the UK will bolster its nuclear arsenals. That include an increase of its nuclear warheads to 260, going beyond its previously announced goal of 180 warheads.
The document also reiterates Britain’s nuclear commitment to NATO, stating that the UK could be committed to defending its European allies as well as the UK itself.
“Global Britain is not a reflection of old obligations, much less of as a glorious gesture, but a necessity for the safety and prosperity of the British people in the decades ahead. And I am determined that the UK will join our friends in ensuring that free societies flourish after the pandemic, sharing the risks and burdens of addressing the world’s toughest problems,” Johnson said.
“Britain will remain unswervingly committed to NATO and preserving peace and security in Europe, and from this secure basis we will seek out friends and partners wherever they are found, building a coalition of openness and innovation and engaging more deeply in the Indo-Pacific.”
Deployment and revamping military facilities
According to the report, the UK will deploy its forces abroad and specifically stated that it will deploy later this year of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth strike group to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and station in the Asia-Pacific region.
Britain will also overhaul its overseas military installations, particularly, its facilities like Singapore, Oman, Kenya and Gibraltar.
UK’s increasing presence in space
As a strategy , the military will set up a Space Command, “ensuring that the armed forces have cutting-edge capabilities to advance UK interests on Earth and in space” by this summer.
By next year, Britain plans to acquire the capabilities to launch commercial satellites into space from Scotland.
In the cyber space, being the world’s third strongest cyber power, the UK will set up a new National Cyber Force and integrate it with counterterrorism and military forces.
“By strengthening our armed forces we will extend British influence while simultaneously creating jobs around the United Kingdom, reinforcing the union and maximizing our advantage in science and technology,” Johnson said.
“With the extra investment and new capabilities of the integrated review I believe the UK can thrive in an ever more competitive world and fulfill our historic mission as a force for the good,” the Prime Minister concluded.
Although the document, as expected, come under a barrage of criticism from the opposition, what it manifests is not only the UK’s master plan to re-emerge itself on the world stage as a force to be reckoned with, but also her future trajectories that she may take as a countervailing power in a rapidly changing and in a multi-polar world order, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
