New UK Strategy

By Jason Sherman / October 18, 2010 at 8:35 PM

U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron is schedule on Tuesday afternoon in London to unveil the results of Britain's strategic defense and security review -- an assessment expected to detail changes in procurement plans and force structure driven by future reductions in military spending.

In anticipation of announcing the results of that review, Cameron's government today unveiled a new National Security Strategy that ranks the highest priorities for the U.K.'s national security as terrorism, cyber attack, “major natural hazards” and accidents; and “international military crises.”

The war in Afghanistan will remain Britain's top priority as long as its troops are deployed there, according to the strategy.

In a letter to Parliament accompanying the new report, Cameron said:

The United Kingdom faces a complex array of threats from a myriad of sources.

The National Security Strategy describes the strategic context within which these threats arise, and how they may develop in the future.

It describes Britain's place in the world as an open, outward-facing nation whose political, economic and cultural authority far exceeds our size. Our national interest requires our continued full and active engagement in world affairs, promoting our security, our prosperity and our values.

Our objectives are a secure and resilient United Kingdom, and shaping a stable world. In pursuit of these goals, our highest priorities are tackling terrorism, cyber security, international military crises and national disasters such as floods and pandemics.

We will draw together and use all the instruments of national power to tackle these risks, including the Armed Forces, diplomats, intelligence and development professionals, the police, the private sector and the British people themselves.

The National Security Strategy, together with the measures in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, will enable us to protect our security and advance our interest in the world.

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