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Boris Johnson has decided to reposition the United Kingdom in the world with an unusual bet: increasing its nuclear arsenal and abruptly ending the disarmament that began 30 years ago, in the aftermath of the "cold war".
The British Government has thoroughly reviewed its defense policy and has decided to
raise the limit of nuclear warheads
for the Trident program by
40%
(from 180 to 260).
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab justified the measure as
"the definitive insurance policy"
against international threats.
"When circumstances change and threats change, we need to
maintain a credible minimum level of deterrent power
,
"
Raab said, arguing for the Johnson government's nuclear "rearmament".
In the integrated defense policy document presented by the 'premier' in Parliament, Russia is openly defined as a "hostile state" and the increase in the nuclear arsenal is defended "in recognition of
a changing security environment"
.
Nuclear "rearmament" has caused stupor not only among its NATO allies and the international community, but especially in Scotland, where Trident submarines (anchored at the Clyde naval base near Galsgow) periodically stir up the ghost of the Cold War".
"We are facing a totally outdated defense policy,"
warned Scottish National Party spokesman Stewart McDonald, who directly accused Johnson of
"violating the commitments of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty."
The United Kingdom is in fact the fifth country in the world by the number of nuclear warheads, behind Russia (4,300), the United States (3,800), China (320) and France (290).
The leader of the Labor opposition, Keir Starmer, questioned Johnson's decision, claiming that it "violates the objective of successive prime ministers and all parties to reduce the nuclear arsenal" and that it
"does not respond to a strategic interest" .
"When the world is trying to emerge from the pandemic,
it is not the time to start a new arms race,"
warned Kate Hudson, head of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
"The government has money problems and the last thing we need is a huge waste of weapons of mass destruction."
The integrated defense and foreign policy review foresees a rearmament initially estimated at 11.6 billion euros, mainly in response to "the
serious threat
to our security" posed by Russia.
The new defense policy proposes "active deterrence and defense against the entire spectrum of threats" from the government of Vladimir Putin, from cyberattacks to the presence of submarines in the English Channel.
Rapprochement with China
Boris Johnson has, however, been far more condescending to China, despite pressure from the hard-wing Conservative Party.
"There is no doubt that China poses great challenges for an open society like ours," acknowledged the 'premier' in his speech at Westminster.
"But we will work with China in a way that is consistent with our values and interests, including a
stronger
and
positive economic relationship
and action on climate change."
The Integrated Defense Document
recognizes China as "an authoritarian state
,
"
yet still warns that its international rise is "the greatest geopolitical factor today" and that its contribution to the world economy will be greater than that of any other country in the world. the next decade.
"Those who call for a new cold war with China or ask for a hijacking of our economic relations are wrong," said Johnson, who recalled how the United Kingdom has guaranteed British citizenship to three million Hong Kongers.
"We have to find a balance. We need to be realistic in our relationship with China."
The 'premier' took advantage of his time in Parliament to outline his vision of Global Britain.
He mentioned only in passing his commitments to NATO and promised to continue working with his allies, but warned that his country will not retreat into itself after Brexit and that it will not settle for "the narrow horizons of a regional foreign policy."
Intensify relations in the Indo-Pacific
"For us, there is no distant country that we do not know enough about," he said.
"Global Britain is not just a reflection of our old obligations, let alone a gesture of pride, but a necessity for the safety and
prosperity of the British in the decades ahead."
The post-Brexit defense document dedicates a chapter to "European neighbors and allies" and anticipates "new ways" of working with the European Union, although it identifies Germany and France as key partners.
"The United States will continue to be our greatest ally"
, stressed Johnson in his speech in Parliament, and then confirmed the intention of the United Kingdom to apply to join the Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement.
One of the main lines of "Global Britain" will be precisely what Johnson himself has defined as "the
" Indo-Pacific turn "
: a new political orientation towards" the economic engine of the world, where half the population lives. and 40% of world GDP is generated ".
Johnson anticipated a diplomatic offensive to intensify political and economic ties with Japan, India, South Korea and Australia, as a counterweight to the power wielded by China.
"We will be the European partner with the largest and most integrated presence in the Indo-Pacific", predicts the defense document that identifies the area as
the point of "most intense geopolitical competition" in
the world.
As a declaration of intent, the United Kingdom will send the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to the area in the coming months.
Johnson has also ordered a thorough review of the UK's response capacity to the "real possibility" of a
terrorist attack
with chemical, bacteriological or nuclear weapons on its own soil in the next ten years.
Finally, the "premier" took advantage of the situation created by the pandemic to justify the
cut in international cooperation
and promised to return to the goal of 0.7% of budgets as soon as the economic situation allows it.
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