Coalitions & the Future of UK Security Policy

By The International Centre for Security Analysis
18 Jun 2004

This Whitehall Paper emerged from a project undertaken by the International Centre for Security Analysis (ICSA) at King’s College London on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). The ICSA team was asked to examine the means by which the UK could maximise its influence in the formation and conduct of coalition military operations in the period between 2000 and 2005. This involved identifying the gaps in current approaches and capabilities and suggesting where the Ministry of Defence could adapt policy, focus procurement or alter force structures to ensure that the UK met its policy objectives in conducting coalition operations. To that end, the research question for the project addressed two key issues. First, what balance of attributes and capabilities would in future operations maximise UK influence in the formation and conduct of coalition military operations, relative to the scale of contribution? Secondly, what balance of attributes and capabilities would improve the robustness of coalitions by reducing dependence on uniquely-provided capabilities or host-nation support?

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