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UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace met with the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) senior civilian leadership and the Chiefs of the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, UK Strategic Command and Defence Intelligence to redouble efforts on the MOD’s Integrated Review.
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As part of the meeting, Secretary Wallace issued a challenge to the MOD's senior leadership to evolve faster in response to the emerging threats and opportunities brought by the rapidly changing post-COVID world.
The Integrated Review will define the government’s ambition for the UK’s role in the world and the long-term strategic aims for our national security and foreign policy.
It will also set out the way in which the UK will be a problem-solving and burden-sharing nation and set a strong direction for recovery from COVID-19, at home and overseas, so that together we can “build back better”.
Secretary Wallace said, "A post-COVID world will increase economic crisis, conflict and competition. The threats we face come in many forms across many continents."
The MOD is playing a central role in the review, ensuring that defence structures and capabilities evolve to remain relevant for a security environment characterised by constant competition between states and other hostile actors, and increasingly demanding proactivity and versatility from the UK's Armed Forces.
"This week, I gathered together our service chiefs and MOD leadership at the Tower of London to discuss the form and capabilities we will need to deliver a modern, capable and strong Armed Forces ready to defend the United Kingdom in the decade to come," Secretary Wallace added.
Military chiefs discussed tailoring the Armed Forces’ balance of capabilities, as well as how best to invest in people, skills and equipment.
The MOD is determined to spend ‘smarter,’ ensuring that procurement and infrastructure projects contribute to the UK’s economy in the most efficient and effective ways possible.
The MOD is fully committed to its part in supporting the successful delivery of the government’s ambition for the Integrated Review.
The Service Chiefs are critical to achieving that goal, and the meeting is just one of many ways in which their military expertise and experience will feed into the process.
The Integrated Review will run in parallel to the Comprehensive Spending Review so that departments are provided with the resources they need to enact the review’s conclusions.
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.
