Summary
The Government has announced a strategic defence review, the first since 1998, to take place after the next election. This green paper, 'Adaptability and Partnership: Issues for the Strategic Defence Review’ (Cm. 7794) aims to contribute to discussion of the key issues and to build a broad consensus on the direction to take.
It sets out the assessment of the UK's interests, the changing international context in which they will be promoted, the use of force in this changing context, and key areas where there is a need to adjust policy and process.
The core argument is that the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces must accelerate the process of reform. Processes, people and equipment must become more adaptable to confront the potential threats successfully. And the UK must improve its ability to operate in partnership across government and internationally.
Key contents:
- Chapters 1 and 2 set the context for the future defence review in terms of uncertainly, affordability, complexity and the use of force.
- Chapter 3 covers adaptability and influence.
- Chapter 4 reports on partnership.
- Chapter 5 deals with people, equipment and structures.
- Chapter 6 sets out the key questions for the future review.
- Two annexes cover an illustrative list of operations since the 1998 strategic defence review and defence planning assumptions.
Published alongside this paper is 'The Defence Strategy for Acquisition Reform' (Cm. 7996) which sets out a new approach in creating greater agility in the defence equipment programme.
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