Report

In defence of Global Britain

Think tank: Civitas

Author(s): Robert Clark

November 14, 2022

This report from UK think tank Civitas looks at the new government review of defence and security.

Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss announced plans to launch a new defence and foreign policy review, whilst in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly in late September. The new British government under Prime Minster Rishi Sunak has confirmed that this new ‘review of the review’ will still take place. The overarching theme reflects the growing awareness in British government that the global order is under many threats from authoritarian regimes – specifically, China and Russia. These threats come in various forms, but can be broadly divided into military, economic, societal, and diplomatic. ‘In Defence of Global Britain’ written by Robert Clark, director of the Defence and Security Unit (DSU) at Civitas who sets out the challenges facing the UK and our armed forces. This publication argues for an increase in UK defence spending in light of threats from Russia and China. The author, Robert Clark argues that a reverse to the cuts announced last year to British Army personnel, tanks, and Royal Navy Frigates must be a minimum contribution in order to meet current threats, whilst spending should be raised gradually over the next eight years or the UK risks missing its NATO mandated 2 per cent of GDP benchmark for defence spending.