Boris Johnson is launching what he claims is the biggest review of foreign, defence and security policy since the end of the Cold War.

In a break from previous military-led reviews, the exercise will have an increased focus on foreign policy and the UK's place in the world.

Downing Street signalled no plans to reduce defence spending, reiterating a pledge to allocate at least 2% of national income to defence.

This should guard against deep cuts to the Armed Forces, analysts said, though there are expected to be reductions in areas no longer deemed affordable or relevant.

"As the world changes we must move with it," the prime minister said in a statement.


"Harnessing new technologies and ways of thinking to ensure British foreign policy is rooted firmly in our national interests, now and in the decades ahead."

Sources in Whitehall, however, said they are sceptical whether Mr Johnson and his top adviser, Dominic Cummings, will achieve the overhaul of spending priorities that is needed to achieve generational change to match the changing nature of war and keep up with rivals like Russia and China.

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Advances in missile technology, cyber, artificial intelligence and robotics mean the shape and make-up of militaries must adapt or risk being outmatched, experts say.

Downing Street said the review will define the ambition for Britain's role in the world.

It will also set out the capabilities the country will need over the next decade to counter threats.

"I am determined to lead a government that delivers for our people - both at home and abroad," Mr Johnson said.

"The UK's institutions, expertise, leadership and values are renowned around the world.

"But we cannot rest on our laurels. We must do more to adapt.

"We will be judged by how we respond to the opportunities ahead."

The new foreign policy focus is reflected in a name change to "integrated review" instead of "strategic defence and security review", which was used to describe similar exercises in 2015 and in 2010.

But the prime minister will be confronted with the same problems as his predecessors - how to fund the full spectrum of military capabilities, including multi-billion pound nuclear weapons, with limited funds.

As part of the attempted revamp, the review will seek to change the way the Armed Forces buy military equipment to make it more efficient.

Image: Downing Street signalled no plans to reduce defence spending

The Ministry of Defence's procurement practices have come under heavy and repeated criticism for waste, mismanagement and incompetence for decades.

Successive governments have tried to inject change. There have been improvements over the past decade but much work is left to do.

A former senior officer said he was doubtful whether any real change would be realised.

Another goal will be to look at how Britain can "better use technology and data to adjust to the changing nature of threats we face - from countering hostile state activity to strengthening our armed forces," Downing Street said.

While the review is set to be foreign policy-led, the Ministry of Defence - with a budget of about £40bn - is by far the biggest spending department involved.

How its funds are divided between the competing requirements of the Royal Navy, the Army, the Royal Air Forces and joint areas such as cyber, space and communications are already the focus of significant work within the Ministry of Defence.

A source said there is a desire for the review to merge the combined budgets of the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign Office and the Department for International Development (DfID) into a single pot.

However it is unclear how that would work in practice.

A second source said there is an expectation that DfID - which has a budget of some £14bn, much smaller than the MoD's but many times the size of the Foreign Office's settlement - will ultimately fold into the Foreign Office.

This may not happen immediately but "it seems to be the direction of travel", the source said, noting that for the first time all ministers with the exception of the secretaries of state are dual-hatted Foreign Office and DfID ministers.

Downing Street said input into the review will also come from the Treasury, the Home Office and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

It will be led by a cross-Whitehall team in the Cabinet Office and a small team in Downing Street "comprised of experts from inside and outside the civil service".

Decisions on the review will ultimately be made by the National Security Council, chaired by the prime minister.

The "main bulk" of the work is set to be finished later in the year to coincide with a Comprehensive Spending Review, according to Downing Street.

Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director general at the Royal United Services Institute think tank, welcomed the increased focus on foreign policy.

A radical review of foreign policy is needed to help the government respond to US President Donald Trump's "America First" doctrine which, together with wider international trends, is in danger of leaving the UK "isolated when pursuing its national interests," he said.

"While there are also new opportunities as a result of recent changes, the risks to the UK's essential alliance relationships are greater now than they have been for many decades," he added.

"The mitigation of these risks should be central to this new review."