Description
This paper explores the ways in which the Sino-Russian partnership affects security calculations of Western states, with a focus on the UK and how it tries to navigate the challenge of continuing to ‘tilt’ towards the Indo-Pacific, while addressing the security challenge of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in Europe.
A deepening Sino-Russian partnership poses new challenges to UK interests in the Indo-Pacific as well as new opportunities. China and Russia are systemic competitors and their deepening alignment entails greater regional polarization. States like India and Vietnam that are Russian partners but China’s neighbors, face an uncertain security environment, while Japan and South Korea seek greater engagement from partners outside the region to enhance its stability.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that ‘based on discussions concerning the situation in Ukraine, it is not possible to speak about the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region separately and that the participation of Asia-Pacific partners in the meeting clearly showed our solidarity and sent a strong message to the international community.’
Kishida’s statement captures perfectly the UK dilemma. The Integrated Review Refresh placed more emphasis on UK cooperation with Europe and the EU, but UK security is framed by its desire to work with the US- but what happens when the UK has different interests?
