Britain has updated its defense strategy, calling China a challenge and Russia the most pressing threat to its national security.
The strategy singled out Russia as the most serious regional threat and said the priority was to find ways to support Ukraine in Europe’s biggest armed conflict since the end of World War II.
The strategy states that Russia should not obtain any withdrawal from the invasion of Ukraine; combat subversive Russian influence on a global scale; reduce Russian capabilities that could pose a threat to the UK, including by restricting Russia’s access to critical technologies and materials.
According to the document, the intensification of Russian cooperation with China and Iran after the invasion of Ukraine is of particular concern.
It is stressed that British security is now inextricably linked to the outcome of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Britain intends to step up ties with Moldova, Caucasus, Balkan and Central Asian states to bolster opposition to Russian interference.
China, according to the document, is a “historic challenge” that can impact almost every area of public policy and the lives of Britons. It is said that the UK intends to cooperate with China on issues of mutual interest, such as tackling global climate change and global financial stability.
However, for the first time, concerns have been raised about China’s policy towards Taiwan.
The Chinese military threat in the South China Sea is of most concern; strengthening the partnership with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine; and refusing to guarantee that military force would not be used for “reunification” with Taiwan.
Over the next two financial years, the UK intends to spend an additional £5 billion on defense needs and, in the long term, to increase these allocations to the level of 2.5% of GDP.
