Britain is betting its future security strategy on carving out a role as a leading force in science and technology and to operate as a country sharing its expertise as the basis of international diplomacy.
In a 114-page Integrated Review written by Prime Minister Boris Johnson's foreign affairs adviser John Bew, the UK set out four objectives for foreign, defence, security and development policies through the rest of the decade to 2030. These are to establish a strategic advantage in science and technology; shaping the international order for the future; boosting security and defence; as well as resilience at home and abroad.
London remains committed to European defence and is increasing the resources it devotes to Nato. It regards the security of the Arabian Gulf and wider Middle East as important and will not downgrade ties, although it does not envisage the activism of recent decades in the region.
Titled Global Britain in a Competitive Age, there is a welter of new thinking about what constitutes defence and the future of battlefields. New priorities include cyber threats, outer space developments and the disruption of the digital economy.
Some of the thinking in the review was presaged by research at the think tank Policy Exchange, where Mr Bew was formerly a policy fellow. Gabriel Elefteriu, the Policy Exchange director of research, said the government had embarked on an ambitious effort to create new networks and alliances to make real the Global Britain policy.
"This is a review that understands there are other big things in play at the systemic level in terms of new rules for global data flows, cyber, governance of space, perhaps autonomous weapons," he told The National.
"It combines this with a prudent outlook that says we should look to what works in the current system and shape the new international order.
"Science and technology has been identified as being this theme that drives the entire Global Britain story forward," he said. "Certain technologies have matured to the point where they're having a material effect on the character of warfare."
An outline of the implications for the military in the new framework will be revealed on Monday when the government is expected to detail cuts to some parts of the armed forces. Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Defence Select Committee, voiced his concern that the reductions will mean Britain will be unable to deliver on its new commitments.
"I worry the pendulum has swung too far," he said.
While observing the jury is out on the resources questions, Mr Elefteriu sees the need for radical changes. "The last revolution we had was the revolution in military affairs in the 1980s-1990s – introducing precision strikes and so on – which shaped warfighting to this day and secured western dominance of the battlefield.
"I think we're kind of in the same situation today. The real question is not whether this is the right way to go but whether it goes far enough."
The report sets its sights on the countries of the Indian and Pacific Oceans for vital potential alliances. The UK already has a dialogue partner role in the regional bloc Asean and is keen to secure membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific.
It also prizes closer ties with the so-called Quad – the US, Japan, India and Australia.
A report from Policy Exchange in 2020 outlined support in the region for the idea. “Policy Exchange set up an Indo-Pacific Commission and they all said they wanted a more global Britain in the region – a very marked contrast with some of the narrative you hear in this country around Brexit Britain that suggests it is now so diminished that no one abroad cares about it," Mr Elefteriu said.
Those countries would look at what Britain had to offer beyond its focus on the Euro-Atlantic area. "What can we offer to our partners in the region, how can we enable them to strengthen their societies, their capabilities and create these new networks of alliances?" he said.
While the US had the interest and the scope to pivot its foreign policy away from Europe to the Pacific, the British shift is a more constrained tilt in that direction.
While the review describes Russia as an "acute threat", the authors are more open to co-operation with China, which is described as a "systemic competitor".
The nuance is important for countries that deal with China as a neighbour and economic partner.
"Britain needs to tread carefully so it does not take a neutral approach between the US and China but that at the same time it does not become confrontational," said Mr Elefteriu said.
"One of our selling points with prospective partners is that it can bring the same capabilities in certain areas but that it is not simply moving in the slipstream of American policy."
New frontiers explored in the review offer most for countries, including those in the Middle East that have developed in artificial intelligence and space programmes.
"Space power today is really becoming an element of national power – space is not just a branch of science policy, it is not just about business or thriving industry," Mr Elefteriu said. "It's about capabilities that have a material effect on your position in the world, on your geopolitical posture. It's very good that this review puts space front and centre along with cyber.
"It's time for a new iteration of the international system that's up for grabs. Other reviews were set down in terms of defending the liberal international order that was inherited after the Cold War."
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last 16, first leg
Liverpool v Bayern Munich, midnight, Wednesday, BeIN Sports
Fixtures:
Thursday:
Hatta v Al Jazira, 4.55pm
Al Wasl v Dibba, 7.45pm
Friday:
Al Dhafra v Al Nasr, 5.05pm
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai v Al Wahda, 7.45pm
Saturday:
Ajman v Emirates, 4.55pm
Al Ain v Sharjah, 7.45pm
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
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Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19
July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan
Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US
Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Mobile phone packages comparison
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
HAJJAN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Abu%20Bakr%20Shawky%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3EStarring%3A%20Omar%20Alatawi%2C%20Tulin%20Essam%2C%20Ibrahim%20Al-Hasawi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
