|
Due to the coronavirus lockdown, DSF has now postponed the Summer
programme to the Autumn with some additions included. A new agenda will
be circulated. Meanwhile, geopolitical issues do continue and should be
monitored. One key subject is the forthcoming Strategic
Defence Review’.
DSF’s Director of Studies has written a review, see
below. We will hold a seminar dinner on this in the
autumn. Please do respond with your own comments which we will
circulate with your permission. We will also be sending out
papers twice a month on current topics to keep you up to
date'.
Defence
Review and Re-Considerations
In the Queen's Speech of December 2019, it was announced the Government
will work to promote and expand the United Kingdom's influence in the
world.
As a result, an Integrated Security, Defence and Foreign Policy review
will take place in 2020. This review goes beyond a defence review to
include all aspects of the UK’s place in the world from diplomatic
services, to capabilities of the Armed Forces and security agencies,
along with addressing matters of international development. In line
with the political rhetoric of today, the Prime Minister stated it will
be the largest review by the UK since World War II, and that it will be
the most radical reassessment of our place in the world since the end
of the Cold War. There is no doubt the Integrated Review is expansive,
the question is how much change will result? The Queen's speech set out
the broad parameters of what is driving the Integrated Review, these
include:
- reassessing
the place in the world in relation to all aspects of international
polciy;
- promoting
the UK's global interests with specific mention of this in relation to
freedom of speech, human rights and the rule of law;
- working
closely with (unnamed) international partners to solve global security
issues and promoting peace and security.
- standing
firm against threats to the values of the UK, with specific mention of
a sanctions regime to address human rights abuses overseas.
Limits of the Integrated Review
From a
briefing document produced by the PM's office in December 2019 we can
extract further information on the depth, breadth and potential limits
of the Integrated Review. In addition to the above points from the
Queen's Speech, the PM’s office has expressed a desire for:
- enhancing
the UK’s global status and reach as part of Brexit;
- pursuing
new opportunities and challenges in a changed world;
- examining
priorities in alliances, diplomacy and development;
- creating an
approach to defence, security and foreign affairs that is
“fit-for-purpose”;
- taking a
comprehensive review of all security dimensions addressing hostile
powers, terrorists and organised crime.
NATO Commitments
The defence
part of the review will retain government spending in line with the
NATO commitment of at least 2% of GDP being spent on defence. There is
also significant talk of examining how defence procurement works in
order to save on costs and moving to enhanced technology to support the
forces. The March budget announcement had 100 million for defence
research and development to support ongoing technology innovation.
The March budget also committed to extensive spending across a range of
domestic matters raising some question on how much new money will be
available. A key point of the Integrated Review is the consideration of
new opportunities in relation the shifting dynamics of military,
political and economic power in the world today. Clearly this means
moving beyond NATO, the EU and the West more generally to examine new
opportunities to other existing and emerging global powers, such as
China, Russia, India,
Brazil, Gulf States, and others.
Shifting global trends
The UK already has a range of connections with these and other states
who are part of the shifting global trends in power and wealth. The
question is whether the Integrated Review will be able chart a path for
new forms of cooperation with a new set of defence and security
partners while maintaining the UK’s desire to champion a range of
values?
This stands as a question, and not a given conclusion, due to the
strong emphasis given in the Integrated Review to the values that are
to be upheld as part of the UK’s new role in the world. The Queen’s
Speech and the PM’s briefing directly mention the UK upholding freedom
of speech, human rights and the rule of law around the world.
Furthermore, there is going to be the creation of a human rights
sanctions regime to target individuals responsible for major human
rights violations.This part of the plan is going to create a number of
limitations on whom the UK can work closely with on a whole range of
matters. Of course, states can pursue defence and security arrangements
with partners that do not adhere to shared values, that is normal part
of
global affairs.
But the stated objectives of the Integrated Review is that action is to
be taken against those that abuse human rights which suggests that
certain normative values cannot be overlooked in global cooperation.
Even if the new approach to human rights abusers is directed at
individuals, this is going to run into state interests in many
situations, thereby limiting the opportunity for new partnerships. The
expressed view on values and human rights means that the Integrated
Review is going to be highly limited regarding new opportunities for
cooperation outside of NATO and EU member states; even there some
questions arise.
New opportunities
In looking at new opportunities in cooperation over defence and
security the UK's fellow UN Security Council members all have serious
matters in this regard to address. We can argue that the UK could take
leadership on human rights and by working with others on defence and
security issues would bring about change.
This is a fallacy as key global powers with resources and power who
would be potential new partners and allies are not interested in
discussing normative values and unlikely to accept any UK pressure on
these matters. The idea of Global Britain as a force for good around
the world should be supported. As a result, however, the UK will remain
limited in defence and security cooperation to its current allies as a
wholly new reconsideration of allies is not compatible to the emphasis
on promoting and protecting values and norms.
|
Download
the Annual Subscription Form to join the
DSF.
To
open Acrobat PDF documents, you need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader
from here.
|
|
