UK Defence Secretary Promises Swift and Comprehensive Review Focused on NATO Commitments and Internal Reform

Defence Secretary John Healey of the Labour Party announced on Sky News that the new defence review will be finalized within a year. He emphasized the rapid pace of the work and highlighted departmental reform as a key focus.

Security and Defense Editor @haynesdeborah

Wednesday, July 10, 2024, 4:

The UK's new Defence Secretary has announced that a significant reassessment of the nation's defence strategies will occur within the next year, addressing several challenging issues.

John Healey emphasized that his main focus will be the challenging yet essential task of overhauling the operations of the Ministry of Defence and its various divisions—a process that will be time-consuming and "won't score you any political points."

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During his comments at the NATO summit in Washington on Wednesday, he indicated that supporting NATO in protecting Europe against Russian hostility would take precedence over deploying military vessels, aircraft, and troops for maneuvers in Asia.

In contrast, a strategic pivot towards the Asia-Pacific region was a foundational element in the previous administration's defense strategy review.

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Sky News inquired of Mr. Healey about the duration of the Strategic Defence Review, which is scheduled to be officially initiated next week.

"He said, 'We'll accomplish that in under a year. We'll do it the right way. We'll do it quickly.'"

"We will tackle it by addressing challenging choices upfront, enabling defense to serve as the cornerstone of a mission-driven administration, central to the nation's security and its economic development and prosperity."

He added, "This also shows that the issue isn't just about our military's readiness to combat, but it's about the profound changes needed in defense. These are not changes that can be accomplished on the first day, in the first week, or even within the first year."

"For the first time, as Defense Secretary, prioritizing the often overlooked task of internal defense reform will be crucial for me. Although it may not be politically rewarding, it is absolutely necessary."

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Regarding the allocation of the UK's military resources, the defense secretary remarked that the UK has frequently committed to being overly expansive in its engagements globally.

He emphasized, "Given the ongoing war in Europe, Russia's broader aggressive actions, and our obligations under NATO treaties, our primary focus must be here. This will be central to the upcoming strategic defense review."

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