New UK Prime Minister has mountain to climb on delivering defence promises (Opinion)
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson pictured during a visit to Ukrainian troops being trained by the British Army in the UK. (Photo: 10 Downing Street/Crown Copyright)
Whoever becomes the next UK Prime Minister may find it near-impossible to overcome the perennial procurement and spending issues facing the MoD, as well as recently generated geopolitical problems such as the Russo-Ukrainian War.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to leave office on 6 September. His departure has opened up a bloody battle between various factions of the Conservative Party who are vying to replace him. For the UK Armed Forces, the next few months may prove an illuminating and, at times, uncomfortable experience.
Looking back, the legacy of the Johnson administration on the defence community is mixed. The 2021 Integrated Review received a broadly positive response for its global outlook and desire to place a truly integrated approach to national security policy. The review was long on aspiration, particularly the goal of
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