The cornerstones of the UK’s national security are being
undermined as the Government fails to keep pace with challenges
to the UK’s position as a global security actor amid
fast-changing security threats, warns the Joint Committee on the
National Security Strategy.
The growing strains on the UK’s relationship with the US; the
continuing uncertainty about the UK’s future relationship with
the EU on security, defence and foreign policy; the rise of China
and the relative shift of power away from the West will require a
more nuanced but sure-footed approach.
In Revisiting the UK’s national security strategy: The
National Security Capability Review and the Modernising Defence
Programme (NSCR and MDP), the Joint Committee concludes
that Government talks a better game than it plays on national
security and says it is time for ministers to go back to first
principles.
The Chair of the Joint Committee, said:
“In our interim report on the NSCR last year, we found that
the process did not do justice to the fundamental changes to the
security environment in which the UK is operating, such as our
relationship with the US and the EU. This follow-up inquiry has
confirmed these conclusions and if anything, the UK faces even
starker challenges one year on. A reality check is
urgently required.”
Today’s Report on the NSCR and MDP demonstrates that the defence
funding model is broken. The Modernising Defence Programme raised
more questions than it answered on the future of defence, leaving
the Ministry of Defence in a ‘holding pattern’ until the next
Spending Review.
Policy and budgetary decisions have been left hanging for too
long by the Government’s internal processes and funding models.
It is unclear when the next full review of the National Security
Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review will be held,
or whether the Government intends for it to take place alongside
a Spending Review. The Report concluded that it is no solution to
‘fuse’ defence and security reviews as the NSCR attempted to do,
if every pound spent on one comes at the expense of the other.
Government has persistently failed to provide enough money to
fund its ambitions for defence capabilities, while the Ministry
of Defence has struggled to manage its budget effectively. The
MOD must be supported by the Treasury in its efforts to harness
new technology and innovation while maintaining sufficient
numbers of soldiers, sailors, pilots and more conventional
equipment.
The UK’s long-term plan for defence, set in 2015, was never
affordable within the budget allocated. Members recommend an
increase in the defence budget.
The Report concludes that the national security landscape is
changing more quickly than the current cycle of five yearly
reviews can accommodate, leaving the UK’s ability to respond to
fast-changing and increasingly complex threats in
doubt.
The Committee Chair added: “If the Government wants to
turn the ‘Global Britain’ concept into a meaningful strategy for
a positive and self-assured role for the UK after its departure
from the EU, then it needs to be more honest about how it
proposes to address these challenges. It must also back this up
with the necessary funding and resources, especially for defence
and diplomacy.”
“This is too important to be sidelined by Brexit. We call on
the new Prime Minister to prioritise the UK’s national security.
Now is the time to start an honest conversation about the UK’s
place on the global stage, the risks we are willing to take in
relation to national security and the resource which Government
is willing to commit to these ends.”
