“UK’s Post-Brexit Foreign Policy” Focusses on Indo-Pacific

What is the news?

The United Kingdom(UK) has released a document laying out its post-Brexit foreign and defence policy priorities.

What are the key features of the Post-Brexit Foreign Policy?

• Expand Influence in Indo-Pacific:
  • The document calls Indo-Pacific the geopolitical centre of the world.
  • The document says that the UK is planning to expand its influence among Indo-Pacific region countries. It will try to moderate China’s global dominance.
  • Further, a planned British aircraft carrier will also be deployed to the region.
• Increase in Nuclear Warheads: The document plans an increase of Britain’s nuclear warhead stockpile by more than 40%. This is due to the evolving global security threats.
• Counter-Terrorism Operations Centre: The document confirms the launch of cross-government hubs – a Counter-Terrorism Operations Centre. It aims at significantly improving the UK’s ability to thwart terrorists.
• India: The document categorizes India as an international actor of growing importance. The UK aims to achieve an Enhanced Trade Partnership with India as a roadmap to a potential comprehensive trade deal.
• China: China and the U.K. both benefit from their bilateral trade and investment. However, China also presents the biggest state-based threat to the U.K.’s economic security.
• Russia and US: The document underlines the importance of strong ties with the U.S. while naming Russia as the top regional threat.

Source: The Hindu