487T. Andreeva (andreeva@imemo.ru),
Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences (IMEMO), 23, Profsoyuznaya Str., Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation
Abstract. The article is devoted to formulating and pursuing of the British defence and security policy by the first government of Theresa May (July 2016 – June 2017) under the influence of Brexit which was anticipated in the nearest future. The author examines a new approach of the May’s government to the defence and security policy which was aimed at acquiring a new world status of “Global Britain” after Brexit. This approach is seen as the creation of defence and diplomatic network consisted of British strategic relationships with key countries (such as the U.S. and France), the UK active membership in different international organizations, such as NATO and the UN, and participation in all sorts of regional bodies, military forces and preparations all over the world. The author also mentions two old British doctrines of colonial period which explicitly helped to formulate this strategy with two main aims: to build the global influence of the world’s leading military and soft power, and to keep Britain, its citizens and its interests secure. In the article, there are several parts showing how May’s government brings this strategy into life using different political tools. First of all, there is a part about British efforts to preserve Anglo-American special relationship during B. Obama’s and D. Trump’s U.S. presidencies through playing more active role in such military organization as NATO. British activity in NATO is considered mainly in the case of counteraction of the West to the false Russian threat to Poland and Baltic states as well as to Russian influence in the Western Balkans and the Black Sea region. The security and defence cooperation between the UK and the EU is also one of the topics of the article. The author pays attention to the British activity in the UN which helps Britain to make an impact on African affairs and to strengthen British position in the world.
Keywords: Great Britain, Brexit, NATO, EU, the first cabinet of Teresa May, British defence and security policy
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