Would You like a feature Interview?
All Interviews are 100% FREE of Charge
Rishi Sunak on Monday released the latest consolidated review of Britain’s foreign and defense policy.
The document is updating its 2021 version after the UK has come under pressure from Conservative MPs to take a tougher stance on China following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The key points are:
1. Tougher policy on China, but not enough for some Tories
The review confirms a change in direction from the prime minister’s position in the Tory leadership race last summer, when he described China as Britain’s “greatest threat”.
Instead, the document seeks to help China and its ruling Communist Party (CCP) implement a “groundbreaking and systematic approach” across “nearly every aspect of public life and government policy,” including democracy, economy, society, science and technology in the UK. I believe that this raises a number of important issues. base”.
While this marks a strengthening of Britain’s stance, Mr Sunak’s refusal to describe Beijing as a “threat” has sparked outrage among China-skeptic Tories.
Former Tory leader Sir Yin Duncan-Smith said the prime minister was “yielding” to China, but Alicia Kearns, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and parliamentarians’ China study group, said: Sunak said he was wrong in seeing Beijing’s threat as “primarily economic”. .
2. Russia remains the biggest threat
The “most pressing” security and foreign policy priority is “Russia’s threat to European security” highlighted by Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the report concludes.
The government’s objective is therefore to “contain and challenge” Moscow’s ability to disrupt the security of Britain, its allies and the international order.
The collective security of Britain and its allies is now “essentially tied to the outcome of the Ukraine conflict”.
3. Russia-China cooperation raises concerns
The report finds a “rising convergence of authoritarian states” that are working together to challenge the open, stable and peaceful world order and undermine the international system or remake it in their image. I am specifying.
This includes the CCP’s express purpose of creating a China-centric international order through economic and other forms of coercion while undermining rights and freedoms in global governance.
“China’s deepening partnership with Russia and Russia’s expanded cooperation with Iran following its invasion of Ukraine are two developments of particular concern,” the report said.
4. The risk of conflict escalating is increasing
There is a “growing prospect” of a further deterioration in the international security environment as state threats “increase and diversify” in Europe and elsewhere.
The risk of escalation is “highest in decades” due to an increasing number of “advanced weapons systems” under development, such as Russia’s hypersonic missiles.
International mechanisms to prevent “misunderstandings, miscalculations and unintended escalations” have not kept pace enough to ensure that “competition does not spill over into uncontrolled conflict.”
Tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, including China’s threats to Taiwan, are “rising” and “a conflict there could have a greater global impact than a conflict in Ukraine”.
Meanwhile, the report also highlights that Iran has advanced nuclear programs and has made 15 credible threats to kill or kidnap the UK or UK-based individuals from 2022 onwards.
5. Sunak is serious about rebuilding relations with the EU
Building on the Northern Ireland Brexit deal, the government intends to “enter a new phase” of relations in Europe, build “even stronger ties” with the EU and European countries, and “closely cooperate in areas of mutual interest.” We aim to do. Brussels, the report said.
The report also cites a “revitalization” of European ties and the Euro-Atlantic region in a shift from an “Indo-Pacific tilt” post-Brexit in the 2021 review, but the update continues to focus on Asia. emphasizes the importance of
6. UK considers ban on Wagner mercenary group
Britain is considering using its counter-terrorism powers to ban the Wagner Group of brutal mercenaries fighting on Russia’s side in Ukraine.
Building on NATO’s approach, this could be part of a renewed intergovernmental effort to address the threat posed by nation-states below the threshold of armed conflict, such as China’s surveillance balloons.
7. Terrorism remains a risk
The review refuses to rule out the possibility of a “significant resurgence” of terrorist attacks as Islamist threats “persist” and “spread” in volatile regions such as Afghanistan and the African Sahel. are doing.
And while there is still a “high” threat from self-radicalized individuals in the UK, organized crime gangs are “increasing in size and complexity”.