Hazy ambitions: how the UK is going to "bring good to the world"

The UK intends to use its military, economic, diplomatic and cultural "influence" to "bring good to the world," British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said on March 17 at the online security forum in Aspen (USA).

He stressed that the UK "has a moral responsibility and a deep stake in the (prosperity) of our planet, our global economy, our global ecosystem, and the peace and stability that underpins them."

The Foreign Minister of the United Kingdom also noted that the country "can and should help alleviate the worst suffering in the world."

• Dominic Raab

• Reuters

• © Simon Dawson

Political trump cards

The UK government earlier, on March 16, published the text of the Comprehensive Review of the country's security, defense and foreign policy.

The document describes the achievements and plans of London in the defense and foreign policy areas.

The authors of the review do not hide the ambitious plans of the UK on the global stage.

Great importance within the framework of this concept is given to the new aircraft carrier of the British Navy Queen Elizabeth.

The survey says this "one of the two largest ships" built for the British Navy will lead a British and Allied Task Force in 2021 in "the most ambitious global deployment of forces in twenty years, and will visit the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Indo Pacific Region ".

• Aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth

• AFP

• © Glyn Kirk

Earlier, the Defense Attaché of the British Embassy in Ukraine, Navy Commodore Tim Woods called the upcoming voyage of Queen Elizabeth "a grand event" and a "demonstration of Global Britain."

As Natalya Eremina, professor of the Department of European Studies at the Faculty of International Relations, St. Petersburg State University, noted in a commentary to RT, Britain's desire to assume the role of global leader is consistent with the strategy adopted by the British side following the Brexit referendum.

“London's global agenda is passed through the prism of security issues, which gives political trump cards, an opportunity to declare oneself as an important partner for countries, and also allows participating in military-political coalitions and events, and building up military potential.

In addition, such an agenda helps to reorient financial flows within the country, ”the expert explained.

At the same time, London remains committed to the North Atlantic Alliance, according to a published defense review.

"NATO will remain the basis of collective security in our home Euro-Atlantic region, where the most serious threat to our security still comes from Russia," the authors of the document emphasize.

The United Kingdom intends to "reaffirm" its "serious intentions to play a leading role in NATO."

To this end, London plans to increase its defense budget by more than £ 24 billion over the next four years.

Thus, the UK will remain the European member of NATO with the largest defense spending, now at 2.2% of GDP.

Britain's new defense policy also includes expanding the kingdom's nuclear arsenals.

The authors of the review recall that in 2010 the government announced its intention to reduce the maximum size of the nuclear arsenal from 225 to 180 warheads by the mid-2020s.

“However, given the changing security situation, including the increase in technological and doctrinal threats, this is no longer possible, and the UK will raise the ceiling to 260 warheads,” the government document says.

These plans of the British authorities have already been commented on by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

As Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, London, having decided to build up its nuclear arsenal, "is striking a serious blow to the very concept of arms control."

• Ballistic missile launch

• Gettyimages.ru

• © Alexyz3d / iStock

A separate section of the British defense and foreign policy review is devoted to sanctions.

Official London declares that it intends to use this tool to achieve its goals.

“We will use sanctions as part of an integrated approach to advance our values ​​and interests and to combat threats posed by states, terrorism, cyber attacks, and the use and proliferation of chemical weapons,” the document says.

However, experts doubt the effectiveness of this approach.

As an example, Natalya Eremina noted that London has practically exhausted its reserves of anti-Russian sanctions.

“At the same time, anti-Russian rhetoric is used by the British leadership to justify their global ambitions.

London uses criticism of Russia to show the need for its activity on the world stage.

Thus, the British side is promoting its agenda, ”the expert noted.

Andrei Suzdaltsev, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at the Higher School of Economics, shares a similar point of view.

“London loves sanctions, usually the UK repeats them for the United States.

However, for example, new sanctions against Russia are almost impossible due to weak ties between countries, "the expert explained in a commentary on RT.

Reverse result

Experts have noted the growth of the military and political ambitions of the United Kingdom for a long time.

In 2017, Boris Johnson, then head of the British Foreign Office, announced plans for London to increase its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

The politician did not rule out the deployment of British troops in Asia.

Included in the sphere of British interests and the Middle East region.

Back in 2014, London signed an agreement with the Bahraini authorities to build the Jaffer military base near the city of Mina Salman.

A logistics military center of Great Britain operates in Oman; in the fall of 2020, London announced its intention to invest 23.8 million pounds ($ 31 million) in the development of the base.

• British Armed Forces soldier

• Reuters

• © Omar Sobhani

Great Britain is also showing attention to the territories of the Far North.

In early 2019, the head of the United Kingdom's Department of Defense (then this post was held by Gavin Williamson) announced plans for London to increase its military presence in the Arctic to counter Russia.

The minister announced a new ten-year program under which British Marines will be trained in conjunction with the Norwegian military.

As a result of this cooperation, a joint British-Norwegian brigade will be created in the region.

However, Britain's military activity in the international arena may cause discontent in a number of countries, experts say.

“The idea of ​​becoming a guarantor of security in international relations, as a rule, leads to the opposite result.

Already, Britain's Arctic ambitions are causing some bewilderment among many members of the Arctic Council.

The activity of the British side in the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific region and the Mediterranean Sea is perceived as a manifestation of Britain's neo-colonial policy.

And this can raise questions from the world community, ”Natalya Eremina believes.

Unbearable load

However, while the military and political claims of Great Britain are ahead of its real defense potential, experts say.

As Natalya Eremina recalled, in recent years, the defense capabilities of the United Kingdom have declined.

“From London's point of view, it is important to restore these opportunities, for which political arguments are used.

But so far, the British side is clearly not capable of such a broad military-political activity that politicians claim, "the expert explained.

• Boris Johnson

• Reuters

• © Paul Grover

This point of view is shared by Andrey Suzdaltsev.

In his opinion, Great Britain cannot yet act alone on the world stage and needs partners.

“The UK faces a host of defense challenges.

Therefore, London will be able to realize its ambitious plans only as part of coalitions, ”the expert is sure.

Recall that in mid-March, the House of Commons Defense Committee published a report in which lawmakers stated the degradation of the armored units of the British army.

The authors of the report pointed to the fact that the military did not receive new types of equipment for more than 20 years.

The armed forces of the kingdom are also experiencing a shortage of personnel.

This was stated in a report by the National Audit Office for the House of Commons in 2019.

Then, according to the results of the audit, it turned out that the manning of the country's air force with flight personnel did not meet the target indicators of the defense department.

Other types of troops, including the navy and ground forces, also faced a shortage of personnel.

Because of its relatively modest defense capabilities, the UK remains firmly committed to NATO allies, as well as a pan-European partnership, experts say.

“Although London has taken an ambitious external course, cooperation with Europe remains a security priority.

In addition, after Brexit, Great Britain's cooperation with Canada and the United States has sharply intensified, ”noted Natalya Eremina.

According to Andrey Suzdaltsev, after Brexit, Great Britain is trying to formulate a new role for itself on the scale of not only Europe, but also the world.

“However, the UK has neither the military nor the economic resources to become an independent global player.

Most likely, London will remain fully committed to NATO on a number of issues, including the confrontation with Russia.

At the same time, Great Britain will try to get closer to the United States and will constantly balance between Washington and Brussels, ”the expert summed up.