UK wants more nuclear weapons

The United Kingdom wants to increase its influence in the Indo-Pacific region and increase its nuclear arsenal. This follows from a document that sets out the country's revised priorities for foreign and defense policy after Brexit. The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that these priorities show how the country wants to re-learn the "art of competing with states with opposite values.

Britain wants to expand its influence among countries in the Indo-Pacific region and try to mitigate China's global dominance, according to a document published by the British government.

According to Reuters, the most extensive review of foreign and security policy since the end of the Cold War shows how the Johnson government wants to take the lead in a renewed international order based on rules, cooperation and free trade.

Johnson said in parliament, this review describes how we will enhance our alliance, strengthen our capabilities, find new ways to deal, and re-learn the art of competing with states with conflicting values.

According to him, China poses a great challenge to Britain's open society. But it will also work with China where it is in line with our values ​​and interests," the British Prime Minister assured.

According to the strategic document, the Indo-Pacific region is increasingly in the geopolitical center of the world. Britain is preparing to send an aircraft carrier to the area. Both China and the United Kingdom benefit from bilateral trade and investment, but China also poses the greatest national threat to the security of the British economy.

Britain wants to further strengthen its nuclear arsenal as a counterweight to growing global security threats. According to AFP, this is the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union that Britain has set such a goal in its foreign policy, security and defense strategy. The upper limit of the number of nuclear warheads is to be increased to 260 from the current 180, ie by 45 percent.

Doubting voices were heard when the British Prime Minister confirmed that he would increase the capacity of nuclear warheads. "Let the Prime Minister get back on the ground a little. We have an aircraft carrier without aircraft and support ships. We also have rusting nuclear submarines, none of which have been taken out of service, criticized Labor MP Meg Hillier.

According to some MEPs, Britain should do more against money laundering, which flows into the financial center in London from autocratic regimes.

Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said, it simply came to our notice then. Whether it's dirty Russian money or increasingly dirty Chinese money

Britain also said it would spend £ 6.6 billion (roughly 200 billion crowns) on research and development over the next four years to accelerate the technological modernization of its military capabilities. The country also wants to invest in the development of space technologies, cybernetics, quantum technologies, biological engineering, guided weapons and advanced high-speed missiles.

The document emphasizes the importance of strong ties with the United States, while identifying Russia as a major regional threat. London considers the link with the USA to be its most important bilateral relationship. The British government wants to strengthen cooperation with the United States in traditional areas such as security and secret services, and strengthen them where the two countries together could have more influence.

The British government writes that until relations with Russia improve, it will actively defend itself against the full range of threats emanating from Russia, including through NATO. London intends to hold Moscow accountable for violating international rules and standards. At the same time, it will support other Eastern European countries in Russia's neighborhood.

According to the document, Britain remains very interested in the security and prosperity of Europe. It intends to work with the European Union in areas of common interest, such as the stability and security of the European continent and the protection of climate and biodiversity.

In its current overview of the country's priorities, it also states that it will create a new headquarters for internal security to face the "major threats" of terrorism. By the end of the decade, according to London, a successful chemical, biological or nuclear attack is likely. The British government claims that the country is exposed to a significant threat, especially from Islamist terrorism, but also from right-wing and left-wing extremism.

the London government said, the threat from Northern Ireland radicals seeking to undermine the 1998 peace agreement also remains. Terrorism will remain a major threat for the next decade, with a more diverse range of material and political causes, new sources of radicalization and evolving tactics, the British government warned in its review of foreign policy and security priorities.