· will say the invasion of Ukraine is a “paradigm
shift on the scale of 9/11” and call for a new approach to
deterring malign actors, setting out three areas for
action
· Will argue the
world must stop Putin in Ukraine or risk emboldening Russia and
other aggressors
· Foreign Secretary
will urge international community to “double down” on and
ramp up global pressure on Putin, including further
sanctions
Foreign Secretary will use a keynote speech in Washington DC tomorrow
(Thursday 10 March) to call for the West to “rise to this
moment”, act now and be “tough” in their approach to global
security in the wake of the Ukraine crisis.
Giving the Makins Lecture at the Atlantic Council think tank, she
will warn “the era of complacency is over” and argue the West
must never again “allow such aggression to grow unchecked.”
She will set out three areas where the UK is urging stronger
action:
1. Ending strategic dependence
– on hostile and authoritarian states, including Russian energy.
2. Strengthening the
deterrence – spending more on defence and strengthening
to NATO.
3. Building stronger alliances
with allies – and with countries not historically
aligned to the UK – focused on trade, investment and security.
The Foreign Secretary is expected to say:
“How we respond today will set the pattern for this new era.
We must start with the principle that the only thing aggressors
understand is strength, and we must start by working together to
stop Putin’s offensive in Ukraine.
“We must rise to this moment. We must pledge that never again
will we allow such aggression to grow unchecked. That means
acting now. It means being tough – because we know that the costs
will only rise if we don’t. The public understand the gravity of
this moment. They see the terrible suffering caused by this
pre-planned, barbaric and illegal invasion against a European
democracy and they recognise that the world has changed.
“Putin has launched a full-frontal assault not just on the
Ukrainian people, but also on the very foundation of our
societies and the rules by which we coexist – sovereignty,
democracy, the UN Charter. He has shattered the architecture of
global security. The invasion of Ukraine is a paradigm shift on
the scale of 9/11. How we respond today will set the pattern for
this new era. If we let Putin’s expansionism go unchallenged it
would send a dangerous message to would-be aggressors and
authoritarians around the world. We can’t allow that to
happen.
“We must start with the principle that the only thing
aggressors understand is strength… and we must start by working
together to stop Putin’s offensive in Ukraine.”
will argue failing to stop Putin in Ukraine will
embolden Russian and other aggressors, and will call on the world
“to ramp up the global pressure on Putin. We must go further
on sanctions to keep tightening the vice – including a full SWIFT
ban, freezing all Russian banking assets, and encouraging more
countries to join the effort. We want a situation where they
can’t access their funds, they can’t clear their payments, their
trade can’t flow, their ships can’t dock and their planes can’t
land. We must work together to ensure justice is done at the ICC
and Putin is held to account for his actions. And we must do more
to deliver defensive weapons and respond to the growing
humanitarian emergency. We will do all of this. And we will shape
this new era for global security.”
In a wide-ranging speech, she will argue the UK has helped lead
the world in economic, defensive, diplomatic and humanitarian
support for Ukraine. She will say UK and US cooperation remains
“vital” in standing up to global aggressors and strengthening
global security arrangements.
ENDS
Background
· Event begins at 1530 EST
(2030 GMT) on Thursday 10 March 2022.
· You can register to attend
online through the Atlantic Council website and watch it via the
Atlantic Council Youtube channel.
