Global ambition is evident in the UK's latest military review, but there is nothing to support it.

The UK published the 'Integrated Review' in 2021, which foresaw the UK becoming a pre-eminent power in the Asia-Pacific, expanding its presence via overseas military bases, and increasing its nuclear weapon stockpile. Two years later, it has published a comprehensive 'refresh' of these plans, responding to a more contested and volatile world. The report's introduction explains that four trends that would shape the international environment to 2030: shifts in the distribution of global power, inter-state, 'systemic' competition over the nature of the international order, rapid technological change, and worsening transnational challenges. It also notes that there has been an "intensification of systemic competition" in recent years, and this is "now the dominant geopolitical trend and the main driver of the deteriorating security environment" in the world. The reformed Integrated Review is the first major public recognition by a Western government that Russia's military operation in Ukraine has heralded the arrival of multipolarity, and thrown the US-dominated world order into chaos.

The most important details in this text are that the US is no longer the uncontested hegemon, and that non-Western states are working together to undermine the international system or remake it in their image. China's deepening partnership with Russia and Russia's growing cooperation with Iran in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine are two developments of particular concern. To counter these perceived threats, the UK must navigate with an understanding that not everyone's values or interests align with their own. An expanding group of 'middle-ground powers' do not want to be drawn into zero-sum competition any more than the UK does, so the UK must work with these countries to protect their shared higher interest in an open and stable international order. The UK's updated "Russia strategy" acknowledges that the Ukraine conflict has brought large-scale, high intensity land warfare back to its home region, and speaks of an urgent need to "contain and challenge Russia's ability and intent to disrupt the security of the UK, the Euro-Atlantic and the wider international order." However, concrete proposals for achieving these ends are almost completely unforthcoming, and London is in a state of denial about its lack of power to do so.

The Review boasts of having "weakened the Russian war machine with hundreds of targeted sanctions, coordinated with our allies," and provided £2.3 billion "in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine" which will be maintained by "at least the same level" in 2023/24. However, those sanctions have fallen far short of achieving their goal of destroying the Russian economy, as Moscow's trade, budget surplus, current account, and currency value are all at higher levels now than before the Ukraine offensive started. The Review acknowledges the growing impact of global volatility on the daily lives of the British people, and the "far-reaching" consequences from pursuing a proxy war with Moscow. It also advocates more weapons for Ukraine, and the maintenance of the sanctions. However, the UK has sent Kiev so much that it risks running out of weapons, and it will take several years for stocks to be replenished.

Following the publication of the original Integrated Review two years ago, US State Department journal Foreign Affairs was scathing in its assessment of London's superpower ambitions. Despite this, the UK still clings to wishful thinking, while offering no new ideas for addressing its waning significance and clout.