De l’est de Suez à l’indo-pacifique : les attributs du hard power britannique

Since the publication of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign policy in 2021, the Indo-Pacific region has been framed as a key zone for British interests. This is sometimes portrayed as a reversal of the decision to withdraw from the East of Suez in the early 1970s, an...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Marc Fourches
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Centre de Recherche et d'Etudes en Civilisation Britannique 2024-03-01
Series:Revue Française de Civilisation Britannique
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Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/rfcb/11653
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Summary:Since the publication of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign policy in 2021, the Indo-Pacific region has been framed as a key zone for British interests. This is sometimes portrayed as a reversal of the decision to withdraw from the East of Suez in the early 1970s, an area where Britain still had significant military commitments. The decision was finalized amidst a heated debate on the size of the British armed forces and the balance between resources and commitments, leading to a significant reduction in the defence budget. One major victim of defence cuts was the fleet carrier programme. However, withdrawal did not mean the end of all British commitments as a residual presence was maintained. Additionally, Royal Navy ships continued to sail in the region to show the flag. The recent deployment of the Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group is a symbolic echo of the past role of hard power and can be viewed as a move to reassure the country about its future.
ISSN:0248-9015
2429-4373