Recommendations & Conclusions
8 items
1
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Refreshing our approach?…
Acknowledged
The Integrated Review has provided a robust and flexible framework to guide UK foreign policy decisions out to 2025. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has tested many of the assumptions underpinning the IR, and these have been found to hold true. A full-scale refresh is only warranted, given the scale …
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The Integrated Review has provided a robust and flexible framework to guide UK foreign policy decisions out to 2025. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has tested many of the assumptions underpinning the IR, and these have been found to hold true. A full-scale refresh is only warranted, given the scale of resources and time required to complete it, particularly at this exceptionally challenging time for Britain’s foreign and security policy, if the Government makes considerable changes or is prepared to fill in some of the gaps in more detail to justify this use of resources. Enhancing the resilience of the United Kingdom should be central to the refresh.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's conclusion, stating that IR2023 updates the UK’s priorities to reflect the changes in the global context and that the resilience of the United Kingdom is central to IR2023.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
2
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Refreshing our approach?…
Accepted
We recommend that the forthcoming National Resilience Strategy includes the creation of a national resilience lead. Effective implementation of this strategy would include regular cross-Government meetings that discuss shared efforts to improve UK’s resilience to threats across all policy areas. (Paragraph 11) Designation of the People’s Republic of China
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We recommend that the forthcoming National Resilience Strategy includes the creation of a national resilience lead. Effective implementation of this strategy would include regular cross-Government meetings that discuss shared efforts to improve UK’s resilience to threats across all policy areas. (Paragraph 11) Designation of the People’s Republic of China
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the 2022 UK Government Resilience Framework sets out the Government’s plan to strengthen the underpinning systems and capabilities for resilience. It also refers to the new NSC sub-committee on resilience and the appointment of a Director of Resilience in the Cabinet …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
3
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Refreshing our approach?…
Rejected
The Integrated Review designated China as a “systemic competitor”. Strong language that is not coupled by action does nothing to alleviate confusion, and risks increasing uncertainty and undermining our credibility. The Government needs to be firmer and more explicit in articulating the UK’s security interests when it comes to China. …
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The Integrated Review designated China as a “systemic competitor”. Strong language that is not coupled by action does nothing to alleviate confusion, and risks increasing uncertainty and undermining our credibility. The Government needs to be firmer and more explicit in articulating the UK’s security interests when it comes to China. The primary responsibility of the state is to keep its people safe. China poses a significant threat to the UK on many different levels. We would support the Government changing the language from “systemic competitor” to “threat” if it were accompanied by carefully calibrated and proportionate policy change, particularly on domestic resilience and security, rather than empty rhetoric. (Paragraph 17) Coherence of Government policy on China
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects the recommendation to change the language from "systemic competitor" to "threat," arguing that it is not smart foreign policy to simplify the approach to China to a single word.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
4
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Refreshing our approach?…
Accepted
China represents an important security challenge for the UK; it is also an important partner. The Integrated Review acknowledged that the UK will need to continue to compete with China in some areas while cooperating in others. When updating the Integrated Review, the Government should address the long-term viability of …
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China represents an important security challenge for the UK; it is also an important partner. The Integrated Review acknowledged that the UK will need to continue to compete with China in some areas while cooperating in others. When updating the Integrated Review, the Government should address the long-term viability of this approach. The long-term goal must be to foster greater resilience and economic diversification, so that in the future the UK has more freedom to choose its actions in response to any aggression or human rights abuses by the PRC. Key to this is cooperation with key allies to improve our resilience, but also to ensure responses to hostile actions by the PRC are made multilaterally where possible. If we are more resilient to the PRC’s weaponisation of supply chains, we can be more effective on the world stage as a global player. Britain should stand absolute against interference in our own country by the PRC and this should be expressed within the IR. (Paragraph 24) 24 Refreshing our approach? Updating the Integrated Review The future of UK-Europe relations
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Government response AI summary
The government is pursuing a multifaceted approach to China through protect, align, and engage, avoiding dependencies in critical supply chains and protecting national security. It commits to developing more robust measures to bolster the UK’s economic security, to publishing a new strategy on supply chains …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
5
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Refreshing our approach?…
Acknowledged
The Integrated Review notably lacked detail on the future of the UK’s relationship with its European partners and the EU. The renewed illegal invasion of Ukraine has altered the dynamics of European politics and provided a clearer lens through which to view UK-Europe security relations. It is important that the …
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The Integrated Review notably lacked detail on the future of the UK’s relationship with its European partners and the EU. The renewed illegal invasion of Ukraine has altered the dynamics of European politics and provided a clearer lens through which to view UK-Europe security relations. It is important that the updated IR clarifies the nature of the UK’s security relationship with key European partners and the EU. We will be exploring further the extent to which this relationship should be formalised or institutionalised. (Paragraph 31) Balancing the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the UK’s overriding priority remains the Euro-Atlantic and is committed to playing a leading role in upholding its stability, security, and prosperity, building stronger relationships with European allies and partners.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
6
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Refreshing our approach?…
Acknowledged
The Integrated Review was right to highlight the UK’s increasing interest in the Indo-Pacific. However, this refresh presents an opportunity to reset and clarify the UK’s relationships beyond the Indo-Pacific and specifically in the Euro-Atlantic. The Government should explain if, and how, it expects the UK to contribute to European …
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The Integrated Review was right to highlight the UK’s increasing interest in the Indo-Pacific. However, this refresh presents an opportunity to reset and clarify the UK’s relationships beyond the Indo-Pacific and specifically in the Euro-Atlantic. The Government should explain if, and how, it expects the UK to contribute to European security while maintaining the Indo-Pacific tilt, particularly at a time of considerably constrained resources. The IR refresh should also explain in more detail what policy objective the Government hopes to deliver with the Indo-Pacific tilt, or work away from the term “tilt”, and set out what the benefits to the UK will be. (Paragraph 37) Filling the leadership vacuum in unstable regions
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the Euro-Atlantic will remain the core priority and the security and prosperity of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific are inextricably linked. It recognizes that it has now delivered the 'tilt' to the Indo-Pacific, making it a permanent pillar of the UK's international …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
7
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Refreshing our approach?…
Acknowledged
The language of the Integrated Review and UK actions since its publication suggests that the Government is tilting away from the Middle East. We acknowledge the trade- offs involved in prioritising other regions but the Government should be careful to avoid any perception of disengagement from partners and fragile countries …
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The language of the Integrated Review and UK actions since its publication suggests that the Government is tilting away from the Middle East. We acknowledge the trade- offs involved in prioritising other regions but the Government should be careful to avoid any perception of disengagement from partners and fragile countries so close in proximity to our own. Instability in MENA will threaten UK citizens at home. We urge the Government to confirm whether it intends to deprioritise the Middle East and if so, how it will continue to promote peace and stability in these regions with fewer resources.
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is not being deprioritised and remains a critical region for the UK and will continue to promote peace and stability in these regions.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
8
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Refreshing our approach?…
Acknowledged
The IR should detail how the Government will actively fight to make sure the multilateral system remains one reflective of our core values and the rules-based international order. That means advancing a forward-leaning multilateral foreign policy and putting forward our own candidates in coordination with likeminded nations for key roles. …
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The IR should detail how the Government will actively fight to make sure the multilateral system remains one reflective of our core values and the rules-based international order. That means advancing a forward-leaning multilateral foreign policy and putting forward our own candidates in coordination with likeminded nations for key roles. (Paragraph 46) Refreshing our approach? Updating the Integrated Review 25
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges that traditional multilateral approaches and defending the 'rules-based international system' are no longer sufficient on their own, detailing diplomatic efforts regarding Russia and support for Ukraine in the multilateral system.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office