The Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (IFAT) held a webinar titled “Perspectives on the British Strategic Review and Global Britain” on May 18, 2021. The conference was moderated by Gergely Varga (senior research fellow of IFAT), the participants were Attila Demkó (leader of the geopolitical workshop of Mathias Corvinus Collegium) Tamás Varga Csiki (research fellow of the Strategic Defence Research Institute at the National University of Public Service), and Péter Wagner (senior research fellow of IFAT).
The participants discussed the visions of the integrated review. They also touched on the relations with the EU, the presence of the United Kingdom in the Indo-Pacific area, and the relationship between the UK and NATO. They briefly elaborated on the possibility of an EU enlargement with China, and they concluded with reflecting on the effects of the integrated review on the Hungarian conditions. Whilst responding to the questions of the attendants, the speakers could reflect on each others’ responses as well.
Attila Demkó emphasised the UK’s tending to the USA, which is mainly caused by the economic deficit and the effects of BREXIT. While still remaining a world-power country, the UK is coerced by the USA, thus they can only stay relevant through the cooperation with the Americans.
Tamás Csiki Varga held that the British are opening up to Asian territories, which happens under the pressure of the USA wanting to involve China within NATO. The majority of the capital is concentrated within Asia, thus it is crucial for Great-Britain to be present in the Indo-Pacific area. Pertaining to the defence expenditure, he stated that the document promised a yearly growth until 2030, which he thinks is not likely to happen. He attracted attention to a shortage within defence modernization. He also agreed that the EU is no longer the backbone of the British defence policy, and that the UK is a junior partner in its partnership with the US.
Péter Wagner argued that the Ukrainian crisis started a change within the British military, which is at its lowest historical point; there was a decrease of ten thousand people, and they are planning to decrease further. Although he admits the British inferiority to the Americans, he thinks they’ll keep up with the technology of the US.
The speakers unanimously agreed that currently in terms of economy and military force, the UK depends largely on the decisions of the USA, especially if they are willing to remain globally relevant. This could result in them partaking in decisions that do not help their policy. Concerning the NATO-Chinese enlargement, none of the participants see a lot of potential in the future.
The full recording can be accessed at the link below or on our Youtube-channel!
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