Armed Forces ‘must become more lethal’
Britain must be ready to use “hard power” and increase the “mass and lethality” of its Armed Forces to combat aggression from Russia and China, the Defence Secretary will say today. Gavin Williamson will warn that the UK will be seen as “little more than a paper tiger” if it talks tough but walks away from global crises. He will also make the case for military-led intervention to stand up to countries that “flout international law”.
BRITAIN must be ready to use “hard power” and increase the “mass and lethality” of its Armed Forces to combat aggression from Russia and China, the Defence Secretary will say today.
Gavin Williamson will warn that the UK will be seen as “little more than a paper tiger” if it talks tough but walks away from global crises. He will also make the case for military-led intervention to stand up to countries which “flout international law”.
Mr Williamson will announce that he intends to send the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, carrying two squadrons of new F35 fighter jets, into the Pacific on its first mission in a move likely to spark alarm in Beijing.
Britain must show Russia and China the “high price of aggressive behaviour” and be willing to use “hard power to support our interests”, he will add.
Mr Williamson will make the comments in a speech at the Royal United Services Institute think tank in central London as he outlines his vision for modernised Armed Forces capable of meeting 21st-century threats.
He will say: “I want to see our Armed Forces embracing transformation at an ever faster rate, keeping pace with technological change, enhancing our mass and increasing our lethality. We shouldn’t be shy about our ambition for our forces.”
Mr Williamson will also set out his belief that the HMS Queen Elizabeth will significantly increase Britain’s ability to project force around the globe.
He will announce that the first operational mission of the carrier will include the Mediterranean, Middle East and the Pacific region.
“Significantly, British and American F35s will be embedded in the carrier’s air wing, enhancing the reach and lethality of our forces and reinforcing the fact that the US remains our very closest of partners,” he will say.
Mr Williamson will also use his speech to urge the UK to take advantage of Brexit to “redefine” its position on the international stage.
Warning that “Global Britain” must be “much more than a pithy phrase”, he will say: “It is my belief that Britain has its greatest opportunity in 50 years to redefine its role as we leave the EU.
“And, with the world changing so rapidly, it is up to us to seize the opportunity that Brexit brings. We can build new alliances, rekindle old ones and, most importantly, make it clear that we are the country that will act when required – and a nation people can turn to when the world needs leadership.”
He will add: “Brexit has brought us to a great moment in our history.”
Meanwhile, Mr Williamson will urge other Nato countries to contribute more to the alliance and “not be distracted by the notion of an EU army”.
“History has taught us that crisis comes when it is least expected,” he will say.
“As uncertainty grows we must be ready to act and bring others with us.”