Integrated Review

The Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy,^[1] often known as the Integrated Review, and titled as Global Britain in a Competitive Age,^[2] was a review carried out by the British government led by Boris Johnson into the foreign, defence, security and international development policies of the United Kingdom.^[3] Described by Johnson as "the largest review of its kind since the Cold War",^[3] the review was published on 16 March 2021.^[4]

The Integrated Review sets out the government's vision for Global Britain, the UK's role in the world following its withdrawal from the European Union. Its four overarching objectives are for the UK to sustain a strategic advantage through science and technology, for the UK to shape the open international order through working with partners and international institutions, for the UK to strengthen its security at home and abroad and for the UK to become more resilient to threats at home and overseas.^[5] The review identified Russia as an "acute threat", China a "systemic challenge" and climate change the UK's highest international priority.^[6] It was first announced in December 2019 by the first Johnson ministry with a publication date set for "early 2020"; however, the COVID-19 pandemic caused it to be delayed several times. A number of preliminary decisions were published in November 2020 ahead of the review's full publication.

A defence command paper, titled Defence in a Competitive Age, was published by the Ministry of Defence on 22 March 2021 which outlined changes to the armed forces in order to meet the objectives of the Integrated Review.^[4][7]

Johnson's successors, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak both pledged to update the Integrated Review to ensure it keeps pace with evolving threats, particularly Russia, following its invasion of Ukraine.^[8] An updated review, Integrated Review Refresh 2023, was published on 13 March 2023.^[9]

Background

The Integrated Review combines previously separate reviews into foreign policy, defence, national security and international development, such as the

Today the Government is setting out its approach to the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy. The Government has set in train the biggest review of our foreign, defence, security and development policy since the end of the Cold War.

— Prime Minister Boris Johnson, (February 2020)[15]

The review was first announced during the December 2019 State Opening of Parliament in a speech outlining the second Johnson ministry's plans for that parliamentary year.^[16]

Objectives

In a statement in September 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the Integrated Review would be underpinned by a commitment to spend at least 2% of

The review suffered several delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing it to miss its original publication date of "early 2020".^[19] The review was first postponed in April 2020 but was restarted in July of that same year, with an unspecified publication date. A call for evidence was published on 13 August 2020 by the Cabinet Office.^[20] In October 2020, the review's future came into question once again following a decision by the government to implement a separate spending review, which covered one year instead of three, due to the economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.^[21][22][23] A new publication date for February 2021 was then set but was subsequently missed, due again to the pandemic.^[24] This date was then replaced by one during March.^[25]

Decisions

In November 2020, Johnson announced an investment of £16.5 billion into defence over four years — representing a share of over 2.2% of GDP^[26] — as the first conclusion of the Integrated Review. Reported as the "largest military investment in 30 years", Johnson stated: "This is our chance to end the era of retreat, transform our Armed Forces, bolster our global influence, unite and level up our country, pioneer new technology and defend our people and way of life".^[27] The investment amounts to an increase of between 10–⁠15 percent on the current annual budget of £41.5 billion.^[28]

The full review, titled Global Britain in a Competitive Age, was published on 16 March 2021 by the Cabinet Office.^[5] It resulted in the following notable conclusions:

Defence

• The government announced its intention for the UK to be restored as the "foremost naval power in Europe" through the introduction of eight
  support ships for the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, a new Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ship and a new class of frigate, the Type 32 frigate.^[26]
• Two aircraft carriers must be maintained, with one carrier strike group permanently available and routinely deployed alongside NATO and other allies.^[26]
• The Trident nuclear deterrent must be renewed.^[26] The cap on the UK's stockpile of nuclear warheads must rise from 180 warheads to around 260^[5] — the first time it has risen since the Cold War.^[29]
• A new United Kingdom Space Command must be formed as part of the Royal Air Force to launch British satellites and, in 2022, the first rocket from Scotland. (The first commander was announced as Air Commodore Paul Godfrey in February 2021.)^[30][26]
• A new fighter system which harnesses artificial intelligence and drone technology must be introduced as part of the Future Combat Air System.^[26]
• £1.5 billion must be invested into military research and development.^[26]
• Directed energy weapons must equip warships and combat vehicles.^[26]
• A new centre dedicated to artificial intelligence to be established.[26]
• A new
  organised crime and hostile state activity.^[26]
• The UK must remain a nuclear-armed power with global reach and integrated military capabilities across all five operational domains.^[5]

Foreign policy

• A constructive and productive relationship must be maintained with the European Union based on a mutual respect for sovereignty.^[5]
• The United States must remain the UK's most important bilateral relationship and strategic ally.^[5]
• Russia remains the most active threat to UK security, whilst North Korea and Iran represent growing threats.^[5]
• A positive trade and investment relationship must be maintained with China whilst addressing the "systemic challenge" it represents to UK security.^[5]
• The UK must be active in Africa (in particular
  green innovation and to make them more resilient regions which are self-reliant for their own security.^[5]
• The UK must continue to be a leading member in NATO — the leading European member — committed to the collective security of the
  Euro-Atlantic region.^[5]
• By 2030, the UK must be "deeply engaged" in the Indo-Pacific region with a larger, more persistent presence than any other European country.^[5]
• The UK must strengthen its foreign policy cooperation with the Five Eyes member states.^[5]

Other

• A commitment of 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) on development must be reinstated when the "fiscal situation allows".^[5]
• A new Situation Centre to be established to address future crisis'.^[5]
• The UK must become a "science and tech superpower" by 2030 through the redoubling of research and development, bolstering innovation partnerships, and improving national skills – including by attracting the world's "best and brightest" to the UK through a new Global Talent Visa.^[5]
• Tackling climate change and biodiversity loss is to be the government's highest international priority.^[5]
• The UK must become one of the world's leading democratic cyber powers.^[5]

Reaction

Jeremy Farrar, director of the health research foundation Wellcome, praised the review's ambitions for the UK to become a "science superpower", however he warned that these ambitions were at risk of being damaged by government cuts to research and development.^[31] Jack Watling of the Royal United Services Institute stated that the review had "much to commend", due to its well-evidenced judgments and accurate descriptions of the UK's interests but added that it was "fundamentally incomplete".^[32] In an article published by Chatham House, Baroness Joyce Anelay, Chair of the House of Lords International Relations & Defence Select Committee, stated that the Integrated Review over-promised and under-delivered.^[33]

The Integrated Review received criticism for its lack of focus on European security, particularly following the

Following the publication of the Integrated Review, the government published a defence command paper, titled Defence in a Competitive Age on 22 March 2021. The document outlined the government's planned investments and savings to defence to allow it to meet the objectives set out in the Integrated Review.^[40]

Revision

Over a year since its original publication, in September 2022, the newly-incumbent Prime Minister Liz Truss announced that the Integrated Review would be updated to ensure it is "keeping pace" with evolving threats posted by hostile nations, especially Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. This update was also expected to be backed by a promised rise in defence spending, accounting for 3% of GDP by 2030.^[41] However, Truss' successor, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who took office in the following October, refused to confirm he would uphold this promise due to economic uncertainty.^[42] Irrespective of this, Sunak remained committed to updating the Integrated Review.^[8]

On 13 March 2023, Integrated Review Refresh 2023 was published by the British government. In a statement to Parliament, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated that the previous review's overall analysis and strategic ambition was correct and on track, however he added that global turbulent events in 2021 had progressed far more than previously thought; a likely reference to the War in Ukraine. He also stressed that China remained a challenge due to the increasingly aggressive military and economic behaviour of the Chinese Communist Party, especially towards Taiwan and Lithuania.^[9]

A pledge to invest a further £5 billion into defence was made; £3 billion of which for the MOD's nuclear enterprise, such as industrial infrastructure and support for in-service submarines. £1.9 billion is to replenish stockpiles to replace donations sent to Ukraine and £50 million is to support wider government security programmes.^[43] An additional £6 billion investment was announced as part of the 2023 budget for a total investment of £11 billion to be made over the next five years. The government's ambition is to raise defence spending from 2.2% to 2.5% of GDP "once fiscal and economic conditions allow".^[44]

See also

• National Security Strategy (United Kingdom)
• Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015
• AUKUS

References