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Boris Johnson has emerged as the victor – vanquishing his nearest rival to take the role of Prime Minister of the UK with renewed bluster and a commitment to re-establishing Britain’s status on the world stage as a reinvigorated world power, but what does this mean?
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In a move that has surprised no one, the boisterous, often awkward former foreign secretary, Boris Johnson has claimed a resounding victory in the UK Conservative Party's leadership battle, heralding not only a new-era in the political landscape of the UK, but as the Prime Minister eluded to, a major restructuring and reorientation of the UK on the world stage, with a firm focus on returning the UK to a top tier status.
"Today, at this pivotal moment in our history, we again have to reconcile two noble sets of instincts between the deep desire for friendship and free trade and mutual support and security and defence between Britain and our European partners and the simultaneous desire, equally deep and heartfelt, for democratic self-government in this country," Prime Minister Johnson resolutely declared.
While the Brexit situation will come to form the primary focus of the early days of Mr Johnson's term as leader, the new Prime Minister's rhetoric echoes the language of the similarly boisterous and at times volatile US President, Donald Trump – with the PM seemingly positioning the UK for a post-Brexit return to global affairs as a true global power, echoing statements made by former UK defence secretary Gavin Williamson.
Mr Williamson used his position earlier in the year to outline a new image for the UK, proposing a return to a global British strategic presence with outposts planned for Indo-Pacific Asia and the Caribbean “within the next couple of years”, marking a major shift in UK defence policy for the first time since the introduction of the 'east of Suez' doctrine in the 1960s.
"This is our biggest moment as a nation since the end of the Second World War, when we can recast ourselves in a different way, we can actually play the role on the world stage that the world expects us to play," Williamson said.
Williamson said that this shift would see the UK become a 'true global player' following Brexit, stepping into a leadership role in an increasingly troubled world – this echoes the new Prime Minister's focus on re-establishing and rebuilding Britain's 'brand' as a major global power across the economic, political, diplomatic and strategic domains to support the global rules-based order and the UK's position in it.
While details remain sketchy at this stage, both PM Johnson and Williamson's recognition that the post-Brexit transition will be the UK's, "biggest moment as a nation since the end of the Second World War", does provide some illumination as to the avenue the Johnson government may take in this new era, which includes enhancing the strategic relationships between the UK and key Commonwealth partners around the world, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Caribbean and nations across Africa.
This renewed focus on traditionally British areas of influence and strategic responsibility, specifically in the Caribbean and, more importantly for Australia's economic and strategic stability, Indo-Pacific Asia, aims to secure the UK's national interests – while supporting the broader alliance networks including the Five Eyes and the Five Power Defence Agreement, each of which serve as powerful tactical and strategic force multipliers for nations like Australia.
Then-secretary Williamson expanded on what this could look like, proposing Singapore or Brunei as potential bases for UK forces in the Indo-Pacific region, enabling greater integration with regional partners: "If we have economic interests there, we should have a military interest there."
"The UK already has a world-leading array of capabilities. We will make the most effective use of them. Our armed forces have led the way for global Britain, tackling our adversaries abroad to protect our security at home and nurturing enduring relationships with our allies and partners," Williamson said earlier this year.
Defence Connect will follow the developments of the British government and the ambitions of Australia's oldest strategic partner, providing up-to-date coverage and analysis as the situation unfolds and more details about Britain's return to major global power continues to unfold.
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Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
