Explainer | China ‘challenge’, Russia and other key points in UK’s 2023 updated foreign policy review
- Britain’s Integrated Review is updated with the hardening of language and positioning towards Beijing and Moscow
- Britain cast China as representing an ‘epoch-defining challenge’ with implications for almost every area of UK government policy
Britain published an update to its foreign policy framework on Monday, which announced increases in defence spending and labelled China as a challenge while citing Russia as the most acute threat to Britain’s security.
London last updated its strategic policy portfolio two years ago, in what was billed as the most comprehensive overhaul since the Cold War era and as part of a recalibration of its post-Brexit world view.
Below are the key points announced by the UK government in the “refresh” of its so-called Integrated Review.
Russia
Britain named Russia as the top regional threat and said the most immediate security priority is finding ways to support Ukraine in Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II.
The new strategy towards Russia will focus on denying it any benefit from invading Ukraine; contesting Russia’s “malign” influence globally and degrading the country’s capabilities threatening Britain, including preventing access to critical technology and materials.
Britain said Russia’s growing cooperation with China and Iran following the invasion of Ukraine are developments of particular concern.
The document said Britain’s collective security now is intrinsically linked to the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine.
