Government publishes National Security Strategy 2025

The purpose of the National Security Strategy 2025: Security for the British People in a Dangerous World is to identify the main challenges the UK faces as a nation in an era of radical uncertainty, describe the key principles underlying the Government’s approach to these challenges and also explain the actions the Government will be taking in response.

The Strategic Context describes an intensification of great power competition and greater prospect of geopolitical volatility. These include confrontation with adversaries (whether indirect or, potentially, directly), competition with other states (both strategic and systematic) and co-operation (which will become harder, but arguably even more important than ever before).

The Strategic Framework sets out principles to guide the UK’s response to this context.

Security at home

Defending the UK’s territory, making the UK a harder target and building resilience to future threats. Delivering on the security and resilience of the UK homeland and its people, both in the physical and online world, is critical for delivering economic growth and the Government’s mission to improve the lives of the British people.

Strength abroad 

Bolstering collective security, renewing and refreshing key alliances and developing new partnerships in new domains. Using all of the levers of state and national power to achieve influence abroad in a more challenging international environment.

Increasing sovereign and asymmetric capabilities

Rebuilding the defence industrial base, developing and maintaining sovereign capabilities and pursuing asymmetric strategies. Ensuring that the national security agenda aligns with the mission to grow the economy and increase opportunity for the British people by reducing the dependence on others and their ability to coerce.

Wide-ranging assessment

Matt Western MP, chair of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, has responded to the Government’s publication of the National Security Strategy 2025.

“I welcome the new strategy,” affirmed Western. “It seeks to provide a wide-ranging assessment across defence and security, critical infrastructure, advanced technology, soft power, industry and trade to name just a few of the topics it covers in detail.”

Western continued: “Security is no longer something that happens ‘over there’ – it’s an increasingly tangible feature of our lives. The Government notes that “for the first time in many years, we have to actively prepare for the possibility of the UK homeland coming under direct threat”, while addressing wider issues around international competition, technology and climate change.”

According to Western: “This requires a whole-of-society response. The strategy envisions a “new national resilience effort”, bringing the UK towards spending 5% of GDP on security and defence. This would require a major cultural shift, and I look forward to examining the Government’s plans to achieve this.”

Western is pleased the Government highlights the threats to undersea Internet cables. “Our ongoing inquiry is examining the extensive vulnerabilities across our subsea infrastructure and how the Government can improve protections. 

However, there are a lot of strategies contained within this overall strategy. Focusing on delivery will be key. Meanwhile, the Government has not provided many details about the trade-offs it will likely need to make to reach its goals. Its position on China is particularly unclear.”

In conclusion, Western commented: “The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy will examine the Government’s new approach closely. I look forward to probing these issues in forthcoming evidence sessions.”