Die neue National Security Strategy Großbritanniens
In: Europäische Sicherheit: Politik, Streitkräfte, Wirtschaft, Technik, Band 58, Heft 11, S. 13-16
ISSN: 0940-4171
In view of the indicated range of problems and against the background of the just effected repositioning of the security policy on the basis of the NSS, the British security and defence policy is about to face a profound and radical change whose basic concepts will become apparent in the coming twelve months. It will thus be the new British government's task in the second half of 2010 to cope with the financial gap, the waning international standing, and the operational overburdening of the British security and defence policy. Whoever may be the winner of the election there is no getting around from making a thorough and comprehensive restructuring. In spite of the far-reaching changes, the NSS update and even the coming Green Paper represent thus only interim steps in an in-depth British strategy debate with an open outcome. The German politicians ought to attentively follow this debate. Above all, it is the most important European partner after France who is going to readjust the course of its security and defence policy with far-reaching consequences for the further development of NATO and ESDP. But the new German government, too, will be confronted with similar problems after the 2009 elections: financial pressure on the defence budget, growing strain resulting from the unpopular Afghanistan mission, and the search for a new security role in the global structure which is getting more and more complex. (Europäische Sicherheit / SWP)