UK Strategic Defence Review Labels Russia as “Immediate Danger”, China as “Sophisticated Challenge”

UK’s 10-year military blueprint identifies threats from Russia and China, promises new weapons factories and advanced battlefield connectivity

June 1, 2025: London:
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is set to release a comprehensive strategic defence review on Monday, outlining the nation’s 10-year military roadmap and identifying key security threats from Russia and China.

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According to The Guardian, the 130-page review, led by former NATO secretary general George Robertson, will describe Russia as an “immediate and pressing” danger. In contrast, China is identified as a “sophisticated and persistent challenge”, with the review noting occasional cooperation between the two countries. Two smaller regional disruptors—Iran and North Korea—are also flagged as concerns.

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The review team also includes Fiona Hill, former US presidential advisor, and Richard Barrons, former British commander. It is expected to question the size of the British army, currently around 1 lakh personnel.

Global Alarm over Russia-China Alignment
The strategic review comes amid growing global concern over Russia-China ties. At the Shangri-La security conference in Singapore, EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas called this alignment the “world’s greatest challenge”.

“When China and Russia speak of leading together changes not seen in a hundred years and of revisions of the global security order, we should all be extremely worried,” Kallas warned.

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Six New Weapons Factories and Over £1 Billion in Investments
As part of the review, the UK Ministry of Defence announced plans to build six new weapons and explosives factories. Defence Secretary John Healey said the government would invest over £1 billion in a new “Digital Targeting Web” to bolster battlefield readiness.

“The hard-fought lessons from Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine leave us under no illusions that future conflicts will be won through forces that are better connected, better equipped, and innovating faster than their adversaries,” Healey said in a statement.

He added, “We will give our Armed Forces the ability to act at speeds never seen before—connecting ships, aircraft, tanks, and operators so they can share vital information instantly and strike further and faster.”

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Russia, China, UK Defence Review, Keir Starmer, UK Military, Defence Investments, Global Security