While the idea is certainly thought-provoking, I think the UK armed forces curently lacks the force projection capability and motivation to provide long-term military presence in the region.
Ann interesting piece that is betrayed by a significantly diminished operational capability and capacity by the UK's Armed Forces. Also, the new PM has little knowledge of international politics as is proven by the awful choice of the new ForSec. Cyprus was never a naval base for the RN, rather a UN and one battalion on island and a more active airbase. Malta was a superb central point in earlier years but is no longer open to s - maybe with a forward thinking government. Gibraltar is under-used and given the reluctance by the government to recover our gold bullion from HMS Duke of Sussex it would appear that appeasement is the preferred route with Spain.
With so few military options the High North is more pressing but our RN limitations are embarrassingly insufficient for the minimal of naval effort. So sad.
An interesting read. Good logic. Unfortunately UK lacks the military depth to up the operational tempo. This is predicated on economic recovery. Much resource has been squandered both politically - Brexit - and in terms of monetary resource - the hopeless management of N Sea Oil resources, (UK pumped more than Norway - Norway chose to set up a sovereign wealth fund), profligate Covid spending, £50bn general energy subsidies in the wake of Russia’s illegal invasion in 22-23 and last but not least Liz Truss’s adventures in sovereign debt.
While the idea is certainly thought-provoking, I think the UK armed forces curently lacks the force projection capability and motivation to provide long-term military presence in the region.
Ann interesting piece that is betrayed by a significantly diminished operational capability and capacity by the UK's Armed Forces. Also, the new PM has little knowledge of international politics as is proven by the awful choice of the new ForSec. Cyprus was never a naval base for the RN, rather a UN and one battalion on island and a more active airbase. Malta was a superb central point in earlier years but is no longer open to s - maybe with a forward thinking government. Gibraltar is under-used and given the reluctance by the government to recover our gold bullion from HMS Duke of Sussex it would appear that appeasement is the preferred route with Spain.
With so few military options the High North is more pressing but our RN limitations are embarrassingly insufficient for the minimal of naval effort. So sad.
An interesting read. Good logic. Unfortunately UK lacks the military depth to up the operational tempo. This is predicated on economic recovery. Much resource has been squandered both politically - Brexit - and in terms of monetary resource - the hopeless management of N Sea Oil resources, (UK pumped more than Norway - Norway chose to set up a sovereign wealth fund), profligate Covid spending, £50bn general energy subsidies in the wake of Russia’s illegal invasion in 22-23 and last but not least Liz Truss’s adventures in sovereign debt.