Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LONDON289
2009-02-03 08:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy London
Cable title:
UK TO ISSUE UPDATED NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY BY
how-toVZCZCXRO1468 PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLO #0289 0340828 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 030828Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1259 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1360 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000289
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL UK
SUBJECT: UK TO ISSUE UPDATED NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY BY
JULY
REF: A) 08 LONDON 1001 B) LONDON 266
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard M. Mills, Jr. for reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000289
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL UK
SUBJECT: UK TO ISSUE UPDATED NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY BY
JULY
REF: A) 08 LONDON 1001 B) LONDON 266
Classified By: POLITICAL Counselor Richard M. Mills, Jr. for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) As part of its National Security Strategy (NSS)
updating process, HMG is conducting a series of 12 workshops,
with the goal of developing material to update each of the 12
strategic challenges identified in the NSS released in March
2008. The workshops are being conducted by the Cabinet
Office and the Government Office of Science's Department for
Innovation, Universities and Skills. Invitees to the
workshops include representatives from across HMG, seleted
embassies, academia, think tanks and NGOs. The results of
the workshops will be incorporated into the NSS update,
scheduled to be released in July, according to Cabinet Office
personnel.
2. (SBU) Poloff was invited to participate in a daylong
session which focused on "Challenges to the Rules-based
International System." The workshop concluded that a new
multipolarity would be driven by the fast-growing economies
of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) and that a
coordinated global response to climate change and growing
resource scarcity would be defining components of
multilateral RELATIONS and driving forces behind how
international and regional institutions interact. The
workshop also focused on the possibilities for strengthening
international institutions, particularly the UN, given the
difference in how the current and previous U.S.
Administrations view multilateralism.
3. (C/NF) Comment: Cabinet Office contacts emphasized to
us that changing conditions, including the global
financial/economic crisis and new U.S. Administration,
justify the expense and personnel-hours for 12 NSS workshops.
Another likely explanation is that the reaction to the
original NSS release was less than exultant. A number of our
interlocutors, government and non-government alike,
complained publicly and privately that the March 2008 NSS was
far too broad and general to be of any substantive value to
policy makers and implementers and that many of their
suggestions for improvements to initial drafts were discarded
or ignored (ref A). One FCO contact even commented that the
current NSS had no value or bearing on HMG policy discussion,
but that HMG needed a good strategic document to help
prioritize initiatives, especially with major budget cuts in
the works (ref B). The inclusive workshops may be an attempt
to avoid similar negative reviews of the July update. End
Comment.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
LEBARON
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL UK
SUBJECT: UK TO ISSUE UPDATED NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY BY
JULY
REF: A) 08 LONDON 1001 B) LONDON 266
Classified By: POLITICAL Counselor Richard M. Mills, Jr. for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) As part of its National Security Strategy (NSS)
updating process, HMG is conducting a series of 12 workshops,
with the goal of developing material to update each of the 12
strategic challenges identified in the NSS released in March
2008. The workshops are being conducted by the Cabinet
Office and the Government Office of Science's Department for
Innovation, Universities and Skills. Invitees to the
workshops include representatives from across HMG, seleted
embassies, academia, think tanks and NGOs. The results of
the workshops will be incorporated into the NSS update,
scheduled to be released in July, according to Cabinet Office
personnel.
2. (SBU) Poloff was invited to participate in a daylong
session which focused on "Challenges to the Rules-based
International System." The workshop concluded that a new
multipolarity would be driven by the fast-growing economies
of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) and that a
coordinated global response to climate change and growing
resource scarcity would be defining components of
multilateral RELATIONS and driving forces behind how
international and regional institutions interact. The
workshop also focused on the possibilities for strengthening
international institutions, particularly the UN, given the
difference in how the current and previous U.S.
Administrations view multilateralism.
3. (C/NF) Comment: Cabinet Office contacts emphasized to
us that changing conditions, including the global
financial/economic crisis and new U.S. Administration,
justify the expense and personnel-hours for 12 NSS workshops.
Another likely explanation is that the reaction to the
original NSS release was less than exultant. A number of our
interlocutors, government and non-government alike,
complained publicly and privately that the March 2008 NSS was
far too broad and general to be of any substantive value to
policy makers and implementers and that many of their
suggestions for improvements to initial drafts were discarded
or ignored (ref A). One FCO contact even commented that the
current NSS had no value or bearing on HMG policy discussion,
but that HMG needed a good strategic document to help
prioritize initiatives, especially with major budget cuts in
the works (ref B). The inclusive workshops may be an attempt
to avoid similar negative reviews of the July update. End
Comment.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
LEBARON