Skip to content
NUPI skole

Research paper

‘Global Britain’ and security in the near abroad. Leadership through flexilateralism?

Screenshot 2022-12-12 at 10.28.44.png

Summary:

The British government’s vision for a post-Brexit ‘Global Britain’ is increasingly taking shape in (i) the security and defence domain and (ii) the UK’s near abroad. Recent policy documents highlight how the UK sees a strengthened role for itself in tackling security and defence challenges in the Euro-Atlantic region, including in the High North and Arctic.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the UK has increased its security and defence engagement in the Euro-Atlantic region further. While NATO continues to be the key security framework, the UK increasingly resorts to British-led formats like the Northern Group and the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), along with bi- and trilateral engagements.

With JEF-members Finland and Sweden set to join NATO, there is a potential for JEF to take on a more explicit role as a supporting instrument for the alliance, but also to function as an informal political consultation forum prior to action being taken.
  • Published year: 2022
  • Publisher: Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
  • Page count: 7
  • Language: English
  • Volume: 2022
  • Booklet: 3