British Foreign Secretary: we must “learn lessons of Ukraine” and adopt “new approach” to global security

Ashraf AboArafe

27 April 2022 – UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will use a keynote speech at Mansion House today (Wednesday 27th April) to argue for a “reboot” in the free world’s approach to tackling global aggressors in the wake of the Ukraine crisis.

She will argue the war should be a “catalyst” for “rebooting, remodelling and recasting” a global security architecture that “has failed Ukraine”. She will praise the strength and unity of the free world’s response to Putin’s invasion but argue it needs to “follow through” to ensure aggressors “fail” and are “contained” in the future.

Truss will say “we need to learn the lessons of Ukraine” and call for “a new approach … one that “melds hard security and economic security… one that builds stronger global alliances … one that recognises we’re seeing the return of geopolitics”, and will urge action in three areas:

Stronger defence – based on collectively investing more in defence, correcting a “generation of underinvestment, with 2% of GDP a floor, not a ceiling”. She will argue for maintaining NATO’s open door policy (including for Sweden and Finland), and for NATO to adopt a more “global” outlook where it steps up work with Pacific partners.

Boosting economic security – reducing economic dependency on aggressors and creating stronger trade, investment, science and tech ties among allies and partners.

Building a stronger network of alliances – with the G7 playing a stronger role, as it has done during the Ukraine crisis, and building a deeper, more intertwined network of bilateral security and economic partnerships.

The Foreign Secretary will also warn the “fate of Ukraine remains in the balance” and urge allies to “double down” in ensuring Putin fails in Ukraine. She will say “Ukraine’s victory is a strategic imperative for us all” and argue the G7 and partners need to keep the pressure on Russia through tougher sanctions, including “cutting off oil and gas imports once and for all”, providing further military aid, and continued humanitarian support. She will argue “if Putin succeeds there will be untold further misery across Europe and terrible consequences across the globe”, we would never feel safe again, and will urge allies and partners to prepare for the “long haul”.

The Foreign Secretary is expected to say:

“Let’s be honest. The architecture that was designed to guarantee peace and prosperity has failed Ukraine.

“We need a new approach… one that melds hard security and economic security… one that builds stronger global alliances and where free nations are more assertive and self-confident… one that recognises we’re seeing the return of geopolitics.

“We cannot be complacent – the fate of Ukraine remains in the balance. And let’s be clear – if Putin succeeds there will be untold further misery across Europe and terrible consequences across the globe. We would never feel safe again. So we must be prepared for the long haul and double down on our support for Ukraine.

“Heavy weapons, tanks, aeroplanes – digging deep into our inventories, ramping up production. We need to do all of this.

“Our sanctions have already seen Russia facing its first debt default for a century. We need to go further. There must be nowhere for Putin to go to fund this appalling war. That means cutting off oil and gas imports once and for all.

“At the same time, we need to keep Ukraine going. That means helping refugees, it means delivery of food, medicine, and other essentials, and it means keeping their economy afloat.

“But we must also follow through on the unity shown in this crisis to reboot, recast and remodel our approach to deterring aggressors. Ukraine has to be a catalyst for wider change.

“Our new approach will be based on three areas: military strength, economic security and deeper global alliances. I want to live in a world where free nations are assertive and in the ascendant … where freedom and democracy are strengthened through a network of economic and security partnerships… where aggressors are contained and moving toward a better path. This is the long term prize: a new era of peace, security and prosperity.”