24 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review
know that any benefits they may seek to gain by attacking the UK will be outweighed by the
consequences for them.
4.7
We will use the full spectrum of our capabilities – armed force including, ultimately, our
nuclear deterrent, diplomacy, law enforcement, economic policy, offensive cyber, and covert
means – to deter adversaries and to deny them opportunities to attack us. We will use these
to ensure that there are consequences for those who threaten our security. We will build our
resilience to reduce our vulnerabilities.
4.8 We will uphold and strengthen the rules-based international order to ensure that those
who transgress international law and agreed standards of behaviour are held to account,
including through the use of economic sanctions. If our adversaries reject or operate outside
these bounds, we will act decisively, and use our influence, including through our membership
of international organisations, to persuade others to take a similarly tough stance.
4.9 We will use our world-class security and intelligence agencies, technological
advantage, diplomats and law enforcement to enable us to stay ahead of our adversaries
and to frustrate their goals. We will increase funding for the security and intelligence agencies
to enable £2.5 billion of additional investment in staff and capabilities. More than half of this
investment will be on counter-terrorism. We will recruit and train over 1,900 additional
security and intelligence staff across the agencies to respond to, and deter those
behind, the increasing international terrorist, cyber and other global threats.
4.10 We will treat a cyber attack on the UK as seriously as we would do an equivalent
conventional attack, and we will defend ourselves as necessary.
4.11 We are strengthening our Armed Forces so that they remain the most capable in
Europe, are able to project our power globally, and fight and work alongside our close allies
to deter or defeat our adversaries. We remain ready and willing to use armed force when
necessary to protect our national interests.
4.12 The collective defence and cooperative security provided by our membership of NATO
further enhances the credibility of our deterrence. We will also work with our key allies across
the world to multiply the effects of our own determined approach and increase our collective
security. In NATO, we will lead a renewed focus on deterrence to address current and
future threats, and to ensure that our potential adversaries are in no doubt about the range
of responses they should expect to any aggressive action on their part.
Our sovereignty
4.13 We will use all of our capabilities to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity,
and our Armed Forces are ready to use force when required. We are also protected through
our membership of NATO. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty states that an armed attack
against one state shall be considered an attack on all.
4.14 There is currently no immediate direct military threat to the UK mainland. But, with
increasing frequency, our responses are tested by aircraft, including Russian aircraft, near
our airspace, and maritime activity near our territorial waters. The Royal Air Force protects
our airspace and is ready at all times to intercept rogue aircraft. The Royal Navy protects
our waters, and deters terrorist and criminal activity. Our NATO Allies provide us with early
warning of approaching ships and aircraft, or deal with them before they reach our territory
or airspace, as we do for our Allies. Our investment in Maritime Patrol Aircraft will significantly
improve our ability to maintain our maritime security.