Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Rejected
Paragraph: 96
Defence's Indo-Pacific 'Tilt' remains under-resourced and far from achieved
Conclusion
Defence was only a small element of the so-called Indo-Pacific ‘Tilt’ outlined in the 2021 Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper. The result has been a modest increase in UK military presence in the region. This has manifested primarily through increased presence in the region of naval capabilities, and an increase in defence diplomacy and work on enhancing relationships with allies. The Government states that the tilt is now complete, and it will be made a permanent pillar of the UK’s foreign policy. We reject the notion that the ‘tilt’ has been “achieved” from a Defence perspective. With only a modest presence compared to allies, little to no fighting force in the region, and little by way of regular activity, Defence’s tilt to the Indo-Pacific is far from being achieved. Fundamentally UK Defence is already under-resourced for its role within NATO in the Euro-Atlantic, which is the core current and medium-term security challenge for the UK and Europe. If we aspire to play any significant role in the Indo-Pacific this would need a major commitment of cash, equipment and personnel. Without this, the UK may need to curb its ambitions in the region.
Government Response Summary
The government notes the Committee's criticism but rejects the notion that the 'tilt' has not been achieved, stating that Defence has met its ambitions through partnerships, integration, and persistent presence, with the 2025 Carrier Strike Group return building on these achievements.
Paragraph Reference:
96
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The Government notes the Committee’s criticism of Defence’s tilt to the region. The Indo-Pacific tilt set out in the 2021 Integrated Review was a clear demonstration of the full spectrum of the UK’s diverse interests in the region. Defence’s objectives for the tilt spanned far beyond increasing our military presence in the region. Rather, as the then Defence Secretary reiterated in his speech at the Shangri La Dialogue Singapore in June 2023, our approach to the region revolves around a “partnership principle”. We committed to creating new partnerships in the region, tapping into historic, deep relationships to integrate ourselves into the region, and our expanded Global Defence Network is supporting deeper engagement. Defence has met the ambitions set out in the Integrated Review 2021. The UK is now more closely integrated into the Indo-Pacific, whether as an ASEAN Dialogue Partner or as a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Our landmark AUKUS partnership, our Hiroshima Accord with Japan announced in May 2023, and our bids to join ASEAN’s Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) and its Regional Forum (ARF) are all clear demonstrations of our long-term commitment to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. We have also delivered on our commitment to provide a persistent presence across all domains in the region, from the permanent forward deployment of HMS SPEY and HMS TAMAR to the enhanced engagement by Royal Air Force aircraft and personnel in exercises such as Exercise PITCH BLACK in Australia. In the Land domain, we are exploiting the forward presence of the Brunei Garrison to exercise with partners and delivery capability building, including jungle training and humanitarian and disaster relief. The 2023 Integrated Review Refresh committed the Government to place its contribution in the Indo Pacific on a long-term strategic footing. Defence has an important role to play in that, building on our achievements to date. The commitment to return the Carrier Strike Group to the region in 2025 is just one example of how we will do so.