In the revised defense, security, and foreign policy assessment, the Chinese Communist Party will be described as an “epoch-defining challenge.” But the top priority will be to address Moscow’s “fundamental threat” to European security.
As part of a revised strategy to counter China and Russia’s intensifying threats, the United Kingdom will spend approximately £5 billion more on its military and seek to raise defense spending to 2.5% of GDP.
The defense, security, and foreign policy review will call the Chinese Communist Party a “epoch-defining challenge” in a tougher tone.
However, the text will refrain from referring to Beijing as a state threat in a broader sense. Instead reiterating that it poses the greatest threat to the economic security of the United Kingdom.
The top priority will be addressing the “fundamental threat” that Moscow poses to European security and preventing President Vladimir Putin from profiting from his invasion of Ukraine.
Before the release of his updated assessment on Monday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that the new funds for defense over the next two years would be used to replenish and expand ammunition stockpiles as well as supplemental funding for the nuclear deterrent.
However, While the Ministry of Defence approves, military leaders think it is insufficient.
During a voyage to the United States, Mr. Sunak did not commit to a specific timeframe for achieving his goal of increasing defense spending to 2.5% of national income from just over 2%, other than “in the long run.”
He stated, “The United Kingdom is increasing its defense spending ambitions” and promised to review the figures after 2025.
His 2023 Integrated Review Refresh will outline how the United Kingdom will respond to new threats and challenges posed by Moscow and Beijing since the publication of the original text two years ago.
The war in Ukraine and China’s increasingly aggressive military actions around Taiwan were the most significant developments during this period.
The United Kingdom modifies its approach to China
There will also be the following announcements in the review:
- The creation of a “National Protective Security Authority” within MI5 to advise businesses on China-related risks.
- Increase government-wide “China Capabilities” money by two, including Mandarin language training and diplomatic China knowledge.
- A new £1 billion security fund will prioritize economic and cyber security, countering terrorism, and supporting human rights. It will supplant the former Conflict, Safety, and Security Fund. (CSSF)
- An additional £20 million in funding for the BBC World Service, which broadcasts in hostile states’ disinformation-targeted nations
- The updated assessment, according to a government statement, “outlines how the United Kingdom will adapt its approach to China to meet the epoch-defining challenge posed by the Chinese Communist Party’s increasingly alarming military, financial, and diplomatic activity…
“The prime minister has directed the government to adopt a consistent, coherent, and robust approach to China that is rooted in the national interest and coordinated with our allies.”
“Indo-Pacific lean”
A central component of the original text was described as an “Indo-Pacific tilt” – a policy that will be at the center of a meeting between Mr. Sunak, US President Joe Biden, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday in San Diego.
The three chiefs will negotiate a nuclear-powered submarine partnership for the Australian navy.
The revised evaluation will also consider President Putin’s Ukraine conflict’s “fundamental threat” to European security. In the 2021 Integrated Review, Russia was described as “the most immediate threat” to British security.
UK tanks, anti-tank weapons, and rocket launchers have helped Ukraine fight Russia’s invasion.
However, the conflict’s intensity has shown the UK’s ammunition stockpiles and defense industry’s inability to produce weapons rapidly.
It is a problem faced by all NATO nations, including the United States.
In April, £1.98 billion will go to the present fiscal year and £2.97 billion to the next.
It will cost approximately £1,9 billion to replenish and expand ammunition stocks.
A new fleet of submarines equipped with nuclear weapons
A multibillion-pound program to build and deploy a new fleet of nuclear-armed submarines that deliver the UK’s sea-based nuclear deterrence – the cornerstone of UK security policy – is one of the largest budget drains.
The “nuclear enterprise” will receive £3 billion of the new money, according to the government.
This will also contribute to the new AUKUS partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
“As the world becomes more unstable and international competition intensifies,” Mr. Sunak said.
The prime minister was questioned regarding the timeline for increasing the defense budget to 2.5% of GDP. He indicated that it could be by 2030, but was unable to provide specifics. However, he did state that defense spending would reach 2.25 percent of GDP by 2025.
The moD may be unable to expedite plans to close the military’s deficiencies in war-fighting capabilities.
In the absence of certainty regarding the rate at which defense spending will increase over the lengthier term. The Ministry of Defence may be unable to expedite plans to close military war-fighting capability gaps.
This includes whether to reverse a cost-saving plan to reduce the army to 73,000 personnel from approximately 76,000 – something that many would like to see, but which, according to defense sources, can only occur credibly if more funding is made available.
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, applauded the increase in defense expenditure, stating that his party had long advocated for such a move.
However, his opposition defense secretary, John Healey, stated that the government was “failing to secure the future of Britain’s national defense.”
“This announcement does not address capability gaps that undermine our national defense and the UK’s contribution to NATO,” he said.
