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The UK will reverse a reduction in its nuclear warheads and has raised the possibility of a nuclear response to catastrophic chemical, biological or even cyber threats as part of a policy review published by Boris Johnson.
The significant shift in nuclear policy prompted questions from the Labor Party and condemnation from anti-nuclear weapons activists.
A Whitehall source told Sky News that the UK “would be an unapologetic nuclear power.”
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons called the announcement a “dangerous U-turn” that would be a major blow to nonproliferation treaty allies and raise global security concerns.
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Boris Johnson says Labor is “weak” on defense and backs Britain when it “matters.”
In response to the “evolving security environment”, the UK plans to reverse a reduction in its nuclear warhead arsenal. A new limit will increase from 180 to 260, the review says.
Britain’s nuclear deterrent is run by four nuclear-armed submarines, ensuring that one ship will always be at sea.
The document said the government would remain “deliberately ambiguous” about when, how and on what scale the UK would use nuclear weapons.
But he hinted at the possibility of the kinds of threats that would justify an expansion of the nuclear response.
“The primary purpose of this review … is to make the UK stronger, safer and more prosperous while upholding our values,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons.
“[It] it describes how we will strengthen our alliances, strengthen our capabilities, find new ways to reach solutions, and relearn the art of competing against states with opposing values. “
The review says that the UK would not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against a country that is a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and is not a nuclear weapons state.
“However, we reserve the right to review this guarantee if the future threat from weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical and biological capabilities, or emerging technologies that could have a comparable impact, makes it necessary,” he says.
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Sir Keir Starmer, the Labor leader, challenged Johnson on the changes.
“I voted for the renewal of Trident and the Labor Party’s support for nuclear deterrence is non-negotiable, but this revision breaks the goal of successive prime ministers and the efforts of all parties to reduce our nuclear arsenal,” he said.
“It doesn’t explain when, why and for what strategic purpose. So the prime minister needs to answer that question today.”
The Integrated Review, released Tuesday, lays out how Britain hopes to shape a world where democracies can thrive, but is poised for one marked by increased conflict and division, with China seen as the biggest state security threat. economical.
Another pandemic is considered a “realistic possibility”, while Russia it is described as “the gravest threat” to UK security.
The 114-page document outlines Britain’s goals and challenges in defense, security, foreign affairs and development.
In the biggest political shakeup since the Cold War, he said or stated:
• Addressing climate change and biodiversity loss is the highest international priority
• A “tilt” towards the Indo-Pacific region focused on strengthening diplomatic and commercial ties
• The precondition for “global Britain” is the safety of British citizens and the safety of the Euro-Atlantic region, which remains the main focus of UK security.
• The ambition to make the UK a “science and technology superpower” by 2030.
• Shaping the international order of the future, with rules to protect democratic values in the real world, as well as in cyberspace and space.
• Building resilience in the UK to future emergencies
• Increased funding for spy agencies as part of efforts to counter the threat of terrorism.
Today in the Commons, Johnson described China as a “great challenge for an open society like ours.” But he said the UK would also work with Beijing “where that is consistent with our values and interests.”
This includes building a stronger and more positive economic relationship and tackling climate change, a complicated balancing act.
China describes itself as a “systemic competitor”, with its authoritarian system at odds with the UK’s values. Photo: AP
The terrorist threat is still described as “significant”, with the main sources coming from Islamist, far-right, far-left, anarchist and single-issue Northern Ireland terrorism.
The review warns that a terrorist group is likely to launch a successful chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack in the next nine years.
To counter mounting criticism of a cut in Britain’s foreign aid spending due to the economic impact of the coronavirus, Johnson said the UK would again spend 0.7% of national income on foreign aid, after cutting it to 0. , 5%, a measure that critics say. it fundamentally undermines the concept of “global Britain.”
“The UK will continue to be a world leader in international development and we will return to our commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on development when fiscal conditions permit,” the prime minister said.
“And we will keep the other vital instruments of our influence abroad, such as our global diplomatic network and the British Council, driving campaigns for girls’ education and religious and media freedom.”
Russia (left, President Vladimir Putin) and China (right, President Xi Jinping) are among the biggest threats facing Britain.
The review included four topics: geopolitical and geoeconomic changes; systemic competition; rapid technological change; and transnational challenges such as climate change and global health risks.
He described a “realistic best-case scenario” as an “international order in which these trends can be managed effectively, with nations coming together to reactivate multilateral cooperation, strengthen global governance and seize future opportunities for growth and prosperity.”
However, the review cautioned that the UK “must also prepare for the possibility that theCOVID-19 The international order will be increasingly contested and fragmented, which will reduce global cooperation and make it difficult to protect our interests and values. “
porcelain it describes itself as a “systemic competitor”, with its authoritarian system at odds with the values of the UK and other liberal democracies.
At the same time, its economic strength makes the country a valuable trading partner for the UK as it seeks to strengthen ties in the Indo-Pacific region after Brexit.
The review establishes this balancing act, outlining how the UK seeks to continue its relationship with China while at the same time upholding democratic values and strengthening resistance to security threats.
Another pandemic remains a ‘realistic possibility’, says review
“China’s growing international stature is by far the most important geopolitical factor in the world today, with important implications for British values and interests and for the structure and shape of the international order,” the review said.
“The fact that China is an authoritarian state, with values different from ours, presents challenges for the UK and our allies.
“China will contribute more to global growth than any other country in the next decade with benefits for the global economy.
“Both China and the UK benefit from bilateral trade and investment, but China also poses the biggest state threat to the UK’s economic security.”
He added: “The significant impact of China’s military modernization and growing international assertiveness within the Indo-Pacific region and beyond will pose an increasing risk to UK interests.”
In the section on transnational challenges, the review predicted that infectious disease outbreaks are likely to be more frequent over the next decade.
“Another new pandemic remains a realistic possibility. With current trends, global deaths related to antimicrobial resistance will increase from 700,000 to 20 million per year by 2050,” he warns.
The document also outlined how the UK had to improve its ability to deal with attacks from hostile foreign states such as Russia, China and Iran in the gray zone.
“We will take a stronger approach in response to the deteriorating global security environment, adapting to systemic competition and a broader range of technology-enabled state and non-state threats,” he said.
“In doing so, we must improve our ability to detect, interrupt, defend and deter the threats we face in the physical world and in cyberspace.
“These can be state threats above and below the traditional threshold of war, transnational security challenges such as terrorism and serious organized crime (SOC), or a combination of these.
“We will show that we are capable and willing to respond.”
