Britain’s Strategic Defence and Security Review and deterring Russia

Commentary feature in which author suggests that Russia is being weaponised by the UK military estabishment and its politcal friends to justify big-ticket buys for the UK military, yet there’s little talk of what Moscow thinks matters.

The author suggests that while the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2018 must consider British interests in the round, of course. But if deterring the Russians was a major concern, then it was worth paying attention to what might really deter them: a flexible, fast-moving and versatile force of true professionals. Not necessarily with the heaviest kit, the biggest ships or the priciest aircraft, but able to get where they were needed, when they were needed.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/national-security-strategy-and-strategic-defence-and-security-review-2015-2/

UK: GOV.UK: Search for information on Strategic defence and security review https://www.gov.uk/search?q=strategic+defence+and+security+review

openDemocracy, 26.01.18: Britain's military: costs of failure, symbols of vanity https://www.opendemocracy.net/paul-rogers/britains-military-costs-of-failure-symbols-of-vanity

Reuters, 17.01.18: Russia scolds Britain for casting it as an aggressor after jets scrambled https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-russia/russia-scolds-britain-for-casting-it-as-an-aggressor-after-jets-scrambled-idUKKBN1F61FO

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