Filenews 16 March 2021
In "a significant investment in the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus that will ensure our ability to contribute to security, with allies, in the Eastern Mediterranean," the report of the United Kingdom's Integrated Study on Foreign Policy, Defence and Security states.
As part of London's new defence strategy for 2030, the presence of British forces abroad is becoming increasingly important.
The bases in Cyprus are included in the plan to create "more compact foundations abroad" with investments in "strategic hubs", in order to give British forces "range, access, influence and information".
Along with the facilities and infrastructure at the bases in Cyprus, an upgrade of the British presence in Gibraltar, Germany, Oman, Singapore and Kenya is planned.
The Consolidated Study foresees, among other things, an increase in the limit on available nuclear warheads from 180 to 260, in a reversal of the country's nuclear arsenal containment path after the end of the Cold War.
It includes a greater emphasis on foreign policy in Indo-Pacific countries such as Japan, South Korea, India and Australia that are described as a "growth engine."
It also provides for a better defence against the "systemic challenge" posed by China, but also an effort to cooperate with Beijing on issues such as climate change.
A new coordination centre for terrorist attacks is also being set up, with the warning that a terrorist attack in Britain with biological, chemical or nuclear weapons is likely by 2030, as well as a new cyber defence command.
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is set to make Britain a "scientific and technological superpower" by 2030.
Presenting the report to MPs, Mr Johnson said that, after Brexit, the UK should "re-learn the art" of competing with countries that have "opposite values."
But he stressed that Britain's commitment to NATO and peacekeeping in Europe remains "unwavering."
Source: eyenews/CYPE
