Strategic Failure. Unfreezing the United Kingdoms Arctic Strategy
Abstract
The current UK Arctic strategy is based on hopeful Arctic exceptionalism, utilizing science and environmental soft power initiatives, sporadic international leadership, and ad hoc alliance-building. The actions of Russia, China and Brexit have changed the strategic environment and the UKs strategy needs to fundamentally change. Russia has already militarized the Arctic; China is a new global power, and the UK government has yet to understand all the consequences of Brexit. Therefore, the three current Arctic UK policy goals, that make up the UK Arctic policy; protecting global influence, protecting people and the environment, and promoting prosperity are unachievable. The UK government must be more assertive in the North Atlantic and Arctic domains, as part of a deliberate push to build British influence. The UK should base its strategy on the realization that it does not have the resources to project power and influence across the globe. By focusing its military, economic and information resources, and efforts, it would assert itself as the lead player in the North Atlantic and Arctic, and thus still project global influence. This achieves two important goals. Firstly, the UK would have something truly tangible to offer its allies, shouldering the weight in one region of the globe so others can focus their resources elsewhere. Secondly, the UK can break the cycle of overextending and failing to support international organizations or honor alliances of national importance. The UK is misallocating its resources based on a belief that the country can replicate its previous global great power status. This requires the UK government to change its mindset and focus a large majority of national resources away from Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, and on the Arctic and North Atlantic. The age of Arctic exceptionalism is over.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 28, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1154018
Entities
People
- Charles Keith
Organizations
- National Defense University