London, Thanasis Gavos

The updated Consolidated Report on the main thrusts of British defence, security and foreign affairs policy is being presented today by Rishi Sunak’s government.

The report calls for an extra £5 billion in spending on the armed forces, with an ultimate target of 2.5% of GDP being spent on defence.

The report also describes China’s international posture as an “era-defining challenge” and points out that Beijing poses the most serious threat from a foreign state to the UK’s economic security.

The language is considered strict, but the text of the report does not go so far as to characterize China as a wider “state threat”, as officials in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party are demanding.

The top immediate priority is to address the “fundamental danger” Russia poses to European security and to prevent President Putin from reaping any benefits from the invasion of Ukraine.

Referring to the Consolidated Report, Mr. Sunak said that additional funds for the armed forces over the next two years will replenish and strengthen ammunition stocks and boost the country’s nuclear deterrent.

The update to the Consolidated Report comes two years after its original form, with the war in Ukraine and China’s aggressive stance on Taiwan intervening.

On China, the report calls for the creation of a new national authority within MI5 to provide security advice to British businesses against Chinese and other threats.

At the same time, funding will be increased for training diplomats in Chinese affairs and for learning Mandarin.

There will also be an upgrade and additional funding for cyber threat services and the BBC World Service’s foreign language departments broadcasting to countries under threat of disinformation from hostile states.

The original Consolidated Report focused on a shift in the focus of British foreign and defense policy to the Indo-Pacific region.

This includes Rishi Sunak’s visit to San Diego, USA for a meeting with US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The three leaders will finalize the details of the tripartite Aukus program agreed in 2021, which envisages the development of nuclear submarines for Australia.