NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2010 19
Security today – and tomorrow
I
am here to tell you why
I think that we need a
The First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope gave this speech as part of a series of Defence Breakfasts at
works – for example in Joint Force
Harrier and the Joint Helicopter
properly informed debate
a law firm in the City of London on January 19. The speech was given after a widely-reported speech by the
Command, where the sum of
in this country about the
Chief of the General Staff General Sir David Richards on the previous day. the parts is greater than their
security strategy we aspire
individual effectiveness.
safety are founded upon, and that, I strongly believe, makes the Gulf War, when our ships and The demands on us are high We must however have an eye
to, and, against that context,
continue to be enhanced by, our importance of measurable success aircraft alongside our allies rapidly – but so they should be, and the on just how joint we can become.
the sort of Defence policy
outward-facing participation in a in Afghanistan so significant to defeated Sadaam’s Navy. demand is set to continue and, I At this juncture, let me say a
and Armed Forces we need, stable, rules-based, global system. ensure we are well-placed for We stayed to enforce the UN’s would advocate, increase. few words about carriers.
and therefore ought to con- Equally, we are a proud nation future contingencies. economic sanctions against the With fewer assets, we must I would advocate that carriers
sider paying for.
with clear national values – in My argument is that strategic regime before supplying and remember that we can’t be in two are about joint effect and are
The forthcoming Defence
humanity, the rule of law and flexibility is not a free good that landing the amphibious forces places at once. platforms for defence.
Review is something which I very
democratic principles. comes simply by possessing that took control of the Al Faw Finally, our submarine-based People that keep turning around
much welcome and it is with the
We would, I profess, wish military forces. peninsula, the gateway to Basrah strategic nuclear deterrent, now and talking about the Navy’s
aim of informing the debate that
to preserve and promote these Those forces need to be used. in 2003. deployed without a break for 41 carriers have missed the point
I am speaking to you this morning
values, as we
With fewer assets,
It is only through And while you will have heard years, continues to deliver the entirely.
from two perspectives – as a
have always done persistent military much about the draw down of UK ultimate security guarantee of our The carriers are about
member of the Defence Board,
and build trust, we must remember activity in support Armed Forces from Iraq, the Royal nation. supporting effect ashore, not
and as the First Sea Lord.
transparency and
that we can’t be in
of other levers of Navy is still there, continuing protecting the fleet, as at Jutland.
I applaud Berwin Leighton
common ground
two places at once.
national power operations to protect the vital
T
HIS need for flexibility, the
ability to change readily to
We have got to be clear that
Paisner’s foresight in sponsoring
with others. that we achieve offshore energy infrastructure and
meet new circumstances, is
the requirement for carriers is a
this series of Defence breakfasts,
Alongside others, the military the effects that can make a real deterring the illegal and damaging
something well understood by
joint requirement for Defence as a
extremely timely as this is an
therefore has an important role to difference to protecting the UK’s smuggling of weapons and drugs
my fellow Service Chiefs as they
whole and the effect they provide
important period to have a debate
play in helping deliver the security interests. Recognition of the in the region, as well as piracy.
review their own capabilities
is a joint effect, not a maritime
because I passionately believe
upon which the global system strategic importance of this wider While we’re at it, we are
and force structures.
effect in isolation.
there are few more fundamentally
rests. utility needs more work. capacity building, training the
The investment in protected
In conclusion, I believe that the
important issues for discussion
This primarily requires us to It also follows that our Armed fledgling Iraqi Navy and Marines,
mobility for our ground forces,
Defence Review needs to consider
than the defence and security of
actively contribute, today, to Forces also need to be shaped and working alongside and leading
helicopters, unmanned drones
focusing on UK Armed Forces,
this country and the protection of
enhancing the prospects of global and equipped to deliver this wider numerous regional partners to
and strategic air transport are
whether maritime, air or land,
its global interests.
stability in that uncertain future. utility. deliver maritime security from the
all examples that illustrate more
which are able to be configured
I need to start by explaining
Through their training, culture, Red Sea to the Indian Ocean.
fundamental work across defence
to deliver the necessary combat
what Defence does for you.
W
E need to ensure that
we, as a nation, have
ethos and values, they should Our continuing commitment in
to deliver agile forces in all
power, but have utility to be able
You in the City know far
the strategic flexibility to deal
have the flexibility to be used that region is a clear indication of
environments, able to wage war,
to support the protection and
better than I that hedging against
not just with Afghanistan, but
in circumstances and areas of where the UK national intent lies.
but also of wider utility outside of
promotion of the national interest
an uncertain future is sensible,
also the broad range of other
responsibility well outside their It is a catalyst for developing
combat operations.
more widely.
especially when, as we all know,
threats and challenges to our
core competences. trust with our partners in the
Much of what General Richards
We have to be able to respond
past performance is no guarantee
national interests today and in
Alongside a greater region.
said last night resonates with what
directly to crises in the short term,
of future results.
the future.
understanding of the strategic There, the utility and
I’m saying today.
of course, but
But Defence is not just the
As I said at Chatham House
effect of using our forces more effectiveness of the RN is giving
He speaks The military do far
our forces also
UK’s national insurance policy.
in November, important as it
widely, we must also recognise the UK government choice in
about a hi-tech
It is intimately tied to Britain’s
certainly is, and I have to give
that in an uncertain future where peace-time and options in crisis,
more for this country
need the means
future and the
to act over the
wider position of influence in the
credit at this point to our sailors,
we can’t afford everything we preserving the flow of oil and
need for cyber
than fi ght for it.
longer term in
world and its dependence on the
marines, soldiers and airmen, who
might need, we must instead strive adding to our understanding and
defence, I absolutely support
establishing and
international market place.
put their lives on the line on a
for forces that are flexible – and knowledge of events in the wider
that.
maintaining the conditions for
It is far more than simply a
daily basis in Afghanistan, it is not
able, between them, to adapt to Middle East.
That is a battleground this
stability in order to forestall crisis.
means of insuring against future
the only game in town. We must
operate successfully across the That will continue, as long as
nation needs to be ready to be
The absence of turmoil is often
crises; it can prevent them from
look beyond Afghanistan.
entire spectrum of
We are ready to
we maintain an
engaged in in the future far more
as much about preventing conflict
arising.
And we must remain prepared
tasks that might be effective maritime
effectively than we are today.
and the misery and costs that
To fully understand the scope
respond at short-
for surprises and strategic shocks.
demanded of them. presence there and
He speaks of flexibility, hybrid
follow, as it is about delivering
of this business, we need to assess
You will all recall that when
Flexible forces notice to the it is what strategic
warfare and this business of high
combat power should that prove
in strategic terms how we use the
Harold MacMillan was asked
offer real choice
unexpected but
influence is all
intensity warfare being a mixture
unavoidable.
Armed Services for the overall
what would determine his
to Government in
not unforeseen.
about.
of old style force on force and
Our forces should therefore
benefit of the taxpayer.
Government’s policy, he famously
deciding how they It is a good
hybrid underplaying of activity.
also be able to be deployed
The Royal Navy contributes
replied: “Events, dear boy,
might wish to respond to developing illustration of what defence can
Yes, absolutely right.
globally and engage in long-term
significantly to the overall business
events”.
crises and, if engagement is early and should deliver for the UK and
We can’t go out there and
reassurance, stabilisation, training
of defence across the globe.
The Falklands War was such an
enough, hopefully also to provide the international community.
expect two ships to engage in the
and prevention missions.
Most of you will instinctively
event. It came in from left field.
the influence needed to prevent I think that the Royal Navy’s
way they used to in the Battle of
And they must also have the
understand the benefits of taking
For me as a Defence Board
crises from flaring up in the first range of capabilities and force
Jutland.
means to work alongside others –
a strategic view of things, and
member, the implication of
place. structures today, along with those
We have got to move way
international partners, government
those who do think at such levels
that is the need to consider the
We have in the past made very planned for the future, exemplify
beyond that and look at examples
departments, civilian agencies and
intuitively, I believe, understand
likelihood of crises developing in
good use of flexible forces. what can be achieved with
of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers
the civilian population.
the case for continuing investment
the near term and to ensure that
As I said earlier, the Falklands forces that are constructed and
and the mass swarm attacks that
Such forces can do good for the
in defence.
we are ready to respond at short-
was a near-term crisis out of manned to be flexible, thereby
form a part of their sea battle and
taxpayer on a daily basis.
But such an intuitive
notice to the unexpected but not
the blue which demanded an maximising their utility as military
will undoubtedly form part of
And for me as First Sea Lord,
understanding does not mean that
unforeseen.
immediate response. instruments.
warfare in the future that we as
the “so what?” is this.
the taxpayer should be writing
All the time, we must be
What are our naval forces doing
a maritime force will have to be
Within the Royal Navy, I must
blank cheques to the MOD.
cognisant of the truism that B
ACK in 1982, after the ‘81
Defence Review, with the
today?
engaged with.
retain and develop the quality
We are all very aware of the
prevention is better than cure structure of the UK’s Armed
As I speak, the Navy’s
But that doesn’t mean we don’t
to deliver success across the full
public funding challenge and
and that early engagement, both Forces still balanced for the
commitment to Afghanistan
need hi-tech weapons with it or
spectrum of defence activity up
the truth is that even if defence
diplomatic and military, to help Cold War, it was helpful that
endures with many of my sailors,
highly capable platforms to deal
to and including high-intensity
spending holds its value in real
influence events and reduce or at that time we retained just
airmen and marines in that theatre
with it.
warfare.
terms, something we would love
deter escalation, will always be sufficient forces of the scale
supporting 11 Brigade.
He talks about the need for a
At the same time, I also need to
to see, we will be significantly
preferable to conflict. and capability needed to alone
The future deployment there
wider debate – that’s why I am
preserve the appropriate capacity
stretched to prioritise and manage
We in the military must work adapt quickly to fight and win a
of 40 Commando Royal Marines
here, to stimulate a wider debate
to be out on the beat every day,
our resources over the next few
actively to support the other levers maritime expeditionary conflict
later this year and of the remainder
and discussion.
across the globe – as the Naval
years.
of national power – such as the 8,000 miles from the UK.
of 3 Commando Brigade during
He advocates a clear
prayer so appositely states –
The challenge for defence is
diplomatic and the economic We were lucky. Our ability
2011 underscores the Navy’s
understanding within that debate
as a security for “such as pass
this.
– in countering threats to the to respond was not without its
continued commitment to this
on how much we can afford to put
on the seas upon their lawful
For now, Afghanistan remains
peace and the stability of the problems, and we learned a great
NATO campaign.
into defence, I absolutely agree.
occasions; that the inhabitants of
our main effort.
international order upon which many valuable lessons in the
But we are doing much more
So whilst there is a desire to
the commonwealth may in peace
But at the same time, the world
the UK’s national interests and course of recapturing the Islands,
besides.
show a split between us and feed
and quietness serve.”
is an uncertain place, characterised
strategic aims rely and prosper. but enough capabilities were there
Naval ships, submarines,
a frenzy of “the chiefs are again at
Words from another age, but
by a variety of current and future
The Armed Forces, as a so-called to use and adapt in the first place
aircraft and personnel are
loggerheads” – we are not.
as relevant today to a maritime
trends that can quickly generate
‘soft power’ across the three services.
currently deployed worldwide,
We are trying to pursue a clear,
nation that still trades across the
new threats to
influence, Whilst I do not raise the
conducting national and multi-
well-articulated debate on what
world, is made prosperous by
our security But such an intuitive
have long- Falklands as an example of today’s
national operations which support
defence means.
engaging across the world and to
and the UK’s
understanding does not recognised the needs, the lesson learnt is very
the UK, promote its values and
Yes, there is going to have to
do so relies on access to the sea.
wider national
mean that the taxpayer
wider utility relevant today.
protect its interests and economic
be differences, his prioritisation is
interests.
should be writing blank
of the military We will always require our
prosperity.
going to be different to mine.
We must, I
instrument at forces to be flexible and you have
I have already exposed the
would contend, cheques to the MOD.
The effects that I am trying
the strategic to invest in them, plan and build
continuation of our mission in
to advocate and the effects that
always be
level. that flexibility into your people
the Gulf and
he is trying to
prepared to deal with those
Be it Defence Attachés in and your platforms right from
Arabian Sea.
Important as it
advocate are
challenges and protect our
nations across the world, building the start.
Maritime
certainly is... it is not slightly different
interests, wherever we can.
trust and ensuring a shared A good illustration of flexibility
security
To resolve this conundrum
understanding through daily over the longer term are our
operations in the
the only game in town.
in terms of
we must have a defence strategy
engagement, be it hurricane operations over the last 30 years
Mediterranean
We must look beyond
where we spend
our money and
that is flexible enough to deliver
support in the Caribbean, a peace in the Arabian Gulf.
and off the Horn Afghanistan.
what we are
security today, whilst at the same
support mission in Africa, or You may not know that the
of Africa continue
going to do.
time, preparing us to address the
support to the local community in Royal Navy has been operating
to intercept illegal activity and
My business, and where I am
security challenges of an uncertain
this country, or a frigate providing in the Arabian Gulf, ashore,
reassure legitimate users of the
pushing harder maybe than he
tomorrow.
diplomatic engagement through a afloat, in the skies and beneath
high seas, enabling global trade to
is – I’m about using armed force
We have no choice but to look
visit in the Far East at a significant the waters since 1979, in all the
continue, less hindered by pirates,
to be a preventative deterrent
again at where our country’s
time, or the Red Arrows at the guises of prevention, deterrence,
traffickers and other criminals.
mechanism to try and prevent the
security interests lie and then in
Dubai air show demonstrating containment, confrontation and
Naval units are permanently
engagement ashore.
that context, we must be prepared
the excellence and utility of UK conflict and in doing so, has
deployed in the South Atlantic
But if engagement ashore is
to look afresh at defence:
equipment and airmanship, the demonstrated that flexibility about
in support of the Government’s
what is required and it is what the
What it does, where and how it
military do far more for this which I speak and the utility of
responsibilities to protect the
nation decides is important, then
does it, but also who and what it
country than fight for it. maritime power in an area crucial
Falkland Islands and our interests
we need to make sure we can do
does it with.
They are of much wider utility to our economic prosperity.
in Antarctica.
that properly.
As globalisation exacerbates
to this country’s interests. Equally important, we have also
At the same time, Royal Navy
A continued emphasis
the competition for resources, our But, and I hope it goes without
provided reassurance to our many
ships and aircraft continue to
on further developing joint
national prosperity and freedoms saying, these soft power activities
allies and friends in the region.
safeguard the integrity of UK
engagement, by which I mean
are increasingly vulnerable to and the benefits that accrue from During the Tanker War of territorial waters and airspace, to
land, sea and air elements, and
events across the globe. Energy them, depend on the underpinning the mid-1980s, we were there provide counter terrorism support operations that involve and
security is but one example. credibility of our Armed Forces providing reassurance in the form to the Home Office, to protect maximise the contributions
The protection of our vital through success on operations and of escort protection to see tankers shipping, ports and offshore energy of military forces with other
national interests cannot be their ability to fight and wage and laden with oil safely through the platforms, undertake inspection agencies and countries, will be
separated from the security and win wars. Straits of Hormuz while the Iran- and enforcement action on behalf increasingly important in a
stability of the international system This is measured in our ability Iraq war was being waged around of the Marine and Fisheries globalised world.
upon which we rely. to deliver ‘hard power’. us. Agency and conduct Search and In defence itself we
The UK’s wealth, health and It is this credibility argument We were still there for the first Rescue. know that jointness
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