Johnson looks to India to bolster British economy
BRITAIN wants to expand its influence among countries in the Indo-Pacific region to try to moderate China’s global dominance, a document laying out post-Brexit foreign and defence policy priorities said on Tuesday (16).
The conclusions of the government’s so-called Integrated Review, crafted over the past year as London recalibrates its post-Brexit foreign policy, include labelling China a “systemic competitor”.
Entitled “Global Britain in a Competitive Age,” the document also identifies Russia as the “most acute direct threat to the UK” which poses “the full spectrum” of dangers.
“The overriding purpose of this review – the most comprehensive since the Cold War – is to make the United Kingdom stronger, safer and more prosperous while standing up for our values,” prime minister Boris Johnson told parliament.
“(It) describes how we will bolster our alliances, strengthen our capabilities, find new ways of reaching solutions and re-learn the art of competing against states with opposing values.”
The report identifies the Indo-Pacific region – including Asian powers such as India, Japan and South Korea, as well as emerging economies like Indonesia and Vietnam – as “critical” to Britain’s economy, security and global ambitions.
While the UK has already applied for partner status at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Johnson is due to make his first post-EU visit to India in April.
The US has also underlined the importance of the Indo-Pacific region under US president Joe Biden, who took office in January, and warned against China’s growing assertiveness. The EU also hopes to deepen relations with countries in the Indo-Pacific.
The review also notably announces an increase to Britain’s nuclear arsenal, reversing a previous commitment to reduce the stockpile to 180 warheads by pledging to increase it to 260 by the end of the decade, “in recognition of the evolving security environment”.
In a foreword to the review, Johnson stated that Britain, which formally left the European Union last year, would look to “enjoy constructive and productive relationships” with remaining bloc members.
The review emerges as Britain seeks to reaffirm its much touted “special relationship” with the US under its new president, despite Johnson’s close alignment with former president Donald Trump.
Johnson told MPs that Washington remained London’s “greatest
ally” and the UK was “unswervingly committed” to NATO.
He added the Brexit divorce deal agreed with Brussels “gives us the freedom to do things differently and better, both economically and politically”.
Britain, the world’s sixthlargest economy, is dwarfed economically and militarily by China, but believes that via soft power and strategic alliances it can help persuade Beijing to play by the rules of a new, more dynamic international system.
Foreign secretary Dominic Raab acknowledged Britain’s attempts to influence Beijing had been marginal so far, telling Times Radio it was better acting “in concert with clusters of like-minded countries...to have the maximum impact and moderating impact on China.”
And despite describing Beijing as a “systemic competitor”, the review concluded cooperation would be vital in tackling various transnational challenges, in particular climate change.
The review paints a more pessimistic outlook for relations with Russia, which Britain blames for killing one former KGB spy and the attempted murder of another with a weapons-grade nerve agent in 2018, both on British soil.
Britain has also blamed Kremlin-linked actors of orchestrating attempts to hack coronavirus research labs and of trying to interfere in its 2019 general election. “Russia will remain the most acute direct threat to the UK,” it stated, adding “until relations with its government improve, we will actively deter and defend against the full spectrum of threats”.
The review also includes plans for military technology such as drones and artificial intelligence and renewed focus on space and cyber.
Britain will also build a White House-style situation room to coordinate responding to security threats and a new counter-terrorism operations centre.
Restoring the international aid budget to 0.7 per cent of gross national income would happen “when the fiscal situation allows”.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said the review had been built on “weakened” foundations, particularly after Britain threatened to break international law by undermining its divorce deal with the European Union. The opposition also said the plan to increase warhead numbers broke with years of cross-party efforts to reduce the stockpile and appeared to conflict with the country’s obligations to non-proliferation treaties.
“(The review) doesn’t explain when, why or for what strategic purpose,” the Labour leader said. (Agencies)