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So, today, @BorisJohnson committed to spending £190 billion on #defence over the next four years, considerably more than was previously planned. What does this mean for the #UK's place in the world? My thoughts... [1/11]
1. Firstly, it marks an end to the period of decline and stagnation in #UK military spending, both in absolute and relative terms - a problem I outlined back in 2017 while working at @HJS_Org... https://henryjacksonsociety.org/publications/global-britain-and-the-future-of-the-british-armed-forces/ [2/11]
2. It also suggests that @BorisJohnson thinks the #UK can and should remain a major power. As he told @UKParliament today: 'the prizes will go to the swiftest and most agile nations, not necessarily the biggest.' The UK's own history underscores this point... [3/11]
3. In terms of vision, it indicates @BorisJohnson's government is committed to maintaining the military strength necessary for the realisation of ' #GlobalBritain', something he expressed his support for back in December 2016 in #Manama... https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/foreign-secretary-speech-britain-is-back-east-of-suez [4/11]
4. Incidentally, @BorisJohnson re-confirmed his views (and to re-appraising #UK aid spending) in a foreword to (and at the @UKParliament launch event for) a paper on #GlobalBritain's potential, co-authored by @IoWBobSeely and myself in early 2019... https://henryjacksonsociety.org/publications/global-britain-a-twenty-first-century-vision/ [5/11]
5. Undoubtedly, #GlobalBritain will be further conceptualised in the upcoming Integrated Strategic Review, to be launched in the new year. But we can already see, through today's announcement, where the review will probably take the #UK in terms of is strategic posture... [6/11]
6. Diplomatically, the boost confirms that the #UK intends to support its allies. It signals to @JoeBiden that the UK will remain the #US' most powerful ally, insofar as it will possess the naval assets required to uphold the prevailing international order ( @HMSQNLZ)... [7/11]
7. Likewise, it demonstrates to the #EU - during the final phase of the #Brexit negotiations - that the #UK will remain indispensable in upholding the defence of #Europe, at a time when European defence budgets are likely to stagnate and/or decline due to #Covid19... [8/11]
8. In addition, it signals to (increasingly important) #UK partners like the Gulf states, #Japan and the countries of the Five Power Defence Arrangements ( #FPDA), that #GlobalBritain is going to uphold the means to reach, support and work with them... [9/11]
9. Geostrategically, due to its focus on the @RoyalNavy and 'forward presence', it confirms an anticipated 'tilt' towards the #IndoPacific region - very much in keeping with the #GlobalBritain vision... [10/11]
