UK's strategic defence review to tackle 'deadly quartet' threats

Former NATO Secretary General George Robertson expressed concern about a potential threat to British armed forces. "They must be able to face the 'deadly quartet' of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea," he warned.

George Robertson was chosen by the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, to conduct a strategic defence review. The review is set to begin on Tuesday at 00:00 GMT. Its purpose is to thoroughly examine and assess the challenges that the British armed forces may face in security and defence. The findings will then be used to determine how the armed forces should develop to meet these challenges.

Robertson and Starmer agree that the review is essential, before it is possible to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. Prime Minister Starmer emphasised this during last week’s NATO summit, arguing that no decision can be made to increase defence spending until a thorough strategic review is conducted.

The review is expected to be completed in the first half of next year. Its findings will be crucial for the future direction of the development of the British armed forces and for the decision to increase defence spending.

Robertson, who was the Defence Minister in Tony Blair's first government and then, from 1999 to 2003, NATO Secretary General, said that the "world has changed beyond recognition since he was in government", pointing to the threat from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

"We are facing the deadly quartet of states that are increasingly working together, and we in this country (the United Kingdom) and in NATO, which met with such favourable outcomes last week, must be able to face this specific quartet, as well as other problems that currently affect the world," Robertson stated.

As noted by British media, including Sky News and "The Times," calling China "deadly" is much stronger than the more nuanced language used towards this country by the previous Conservative government. According to the media, this suggests that the review will place much greater emphasis on the threat from Beijing.

Robertson will be assisted in conducting the review by Fiona Hill, a British-American expert on Russia and Europe, who was an advisor in the Trump administration in the USA for two years and then became very critical of him, as well as Gen. Richard Barrons, who led the UK's Joint Forces Command (now Strategic Command) from 2013 to 2016.

"We live in a more dangerous and unstable world. My government will develop new, clear approaches to our national defence, preparing us to face international threats while ensuring the British people’s safety. We will guarantee that our currently strained armed forces will be strengthened and respected, defence spending will be responsibly increased, and our country will have the capabilities needed to ensure the UK’s long-term resilience," Prime Minister Starmer stated.