British military commitment to its Pacific allies under threat

The British military’s much touted commitment to its Pacific allies is under threat because of Russia’s war on Ukraine. See why.

Britain’s “tilt” toward the Indo Pacific in recognition of China’s military expansion could be wound back with the drain of the Ukraine war creating a threat to the UK’s own national defences.

The rethink on the much-touted commitment comes on the eve of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s trip to the US with British counterpart Rishi Sunak, where the men will meet with President Joe Biden to discuss the AUKUS security pact.

Those trilateral discussions in San Diego next Monday will see the announcement of how the three nation’s will share top secret plans for nuclear-powered submarines, specifically what type of vessel Australia will acquire.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet US President Joe Biden in San Diego. Picture: Getty Images

At this stage the tip is a British next generation designed submarine fitted out with US combat systems for Australia’s future $100 billion fleet of eight.

The summit will also canvas the threat by China to forcibly take Taiwan back and repercussions for the Pacific and the onus on AUKUS.

But the UK’s renewed commitment to the Pacific, pledged with fanfare in 2021, is under threat with a parliamentary inquiry today finding Britain’s dwindling stockpile of munitions because of its support for Ukraine now put its own defence as threat level.

Astute class submarine HMS Ambush.

While noting the China threat, the opposition has also warned a focus on the Pacific in support of AUKUS allies made by Mr Sunak’s two predecessors could no longer be sustained.

The UK military’s 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy included a “tilt to the Indo Pacific” with AUKUS as the corner stone of a pledge to deploy ships and munitions to the region.

China's flagship aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. Picture: AFP

An update to that policy is due out in days and according to Bloomberg newswire it is expected to be take a “less hawkish tone” on China in the face of unexpected war in Europe.

“Just as we would not expect Japan or Australia to deploy much of their military to Europe, nor does it make sense – especially at this moment – for UK forces to devote an increasing share of their scarce resources to the Indo-Pacific,” British Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey said of the review.

The Commons Defence Committee said the UK and other NATO allies had allowed their reserves of ammunition to fall to “dangerously low levels” as they sought to keep Kyiv supplied in its struggle against the Russian invader.

Ammo reserves are being tested by the war in Ukraine. Picture: Anatolii Stepanov

The committee noted the way in which Western governments procured armaments was “not fit for purpose” and it urged its Ministry of Defence to draw up an action plan to cut the time needed to restore its stockpiles.

“It is clear that the UK and its NATO allies have allowed ammunition stockpiles to dwindle to dangerously low levels,” the committee concluded.

“While Russia is also facing the diminution of its stockpiles, other adversaries are able to maintain and potentially increase their own. This inability to replenish UK stockpiles therefore puts at risk not just our ability to resupply Ukraine but also to counter any threat to our own security.”

The committee declared it was essential the UK’s defence industry capacity be grown and an action plan be urgently created to how this could be done.

Originally published as British military commitment to its Pacific allies under threat