The United Kingdom released its “Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy” on 16 March 2021. Titled ‘Global Britain in a Competitive Age’, the document stands out for shaping the country’s post-Brexit foreign, defence, security and development priorities and policies. A notable aspect of the review is the UK’s foreign and security policy ‘tilt’ towards the Indo-Pacific region. China, India and Japan are recognised as the three most important powers in this region with widely differing characteristics and relationships with the UK. The UK seeks to “deepen” engagement in the Indo-Pacific with an ambitious goal of being the European partner “with the broadest and most integrated presence” in the region.

To deliberate on the integrated review and the implications for India, the Vivekananda International Foundation and the International Institute of Strategic Studies, UK organised a webinar on 19 March 2021. The meeting was moderated by Mr. Rahul Roy Chaudhury and saw in attendance distinguished participants including Dr. Arvind Gupta, the Right Honourable the Lord Jo Johnson of Marylebone, Mr. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Mr. Alex Ellis and Amb. Arun K. Singh. The speakers agreed that there is a great scope for UK-India partnership in the backdrop of Brexit and the Indo-Pacific construct. However, it was also observed that a greater clarity is needed on the part of UK with regard to how it would deal with an assertive China in the coming years.