The UK cannot afford to have capability gaps in its contributions to NATO post-Brexit, as this would harm its credibility and image as a significant global power. Recent decisions like scrapping the aging Harpoon anti-ship missile system and concerns about the size of the UK surface fleet represent worrying signs of capability gaps. While soft power may be affected by Brexit, capability gaps in hard power contributions to NATO are more difficult to accept, as NATO serves as a significant bastion of UK influence. Maintaining its defense spending commitment of 2% of GDP is crucial to the UK's status in NATO and international influence. Regular capability gaps risk hitting the UK's credibility as a world power unless addressed.

1. The UK Cannot Afford Capability and Contribution Gaps to NATO Post-Brexit
4th
November 2016
Post-Brexitand at a time ofprecarious power dynamicsthe UK cannot afford to have significant
capability gaps which wouldharm the credibilityand image of the UK as a significantglobal
contender.The UK governmenthas an obligationto fulfill itspart towards collective securityand
defence forthe NATO alliance.What you do wrong is far more oftenrememberedthanwhat you
do right. Britain must remain vigilant.
The recentnewsthat the Royal Navyis to scrap itsagingHarpoon anti-shipmissile systemandthe
recentMOD report raisingconcernaboutthe UK surface fleetsize isaworryingsignof ‘capability'
gaps inthe UK contributiontoNATOforce structures.Post-Brexitandata time of precariouspower
dynamicsthe UK cannot affordtohave significantcapabilitygapswhichwouldharmthe credibility
and image of the UK as a significantglobal contender.Whilethe decisiontoleave the EUaffects
Britishsoftpoweritcomesamida risingtrendof anti-globalismandincreasingnativism.Thissoft
powerretreatis acceptable if managedwell butdentstohardpower,especiallytoNATO
contributionswhichserveasa significantbastionof UKinfluence are muchharderto stomach.
The Harpoon anti-shipmissilehasbeeninservice withthe USandUK naviessince the late 1970's
and isnowdue to be scrappedin2018. Thousandsof unitshave beenorderedoveritslifetime and
due to itsinadequacies,especiallywhencomparedtochina's‘carrierkiller'missilethe replacement
iswell pastdue.But some sourcessaythat It will take upto a decade to be fullyreplaced(somesay
by the Long Range Anti-Shipmissile beingtestedinAmerica).
Thisanti-shipcapabilitygapisall the more worryingsince the RussianaircraftcarrierAdmiral
Kutnetzovsailedpastthe white cliffsof doverandthroughour geographical blessingof anEnglish
Channel.Thoughwe still have ananti-shipcapabilitythroughour‘hunterkiller'submarinesand
embarkedhelicoptersthe capabilitygapwhere ourtype 23 frigateswill be sailingwithoutanyanti-
shipmissilesisworrying,especiallywitharevanchistRussiawhoisincreasingbothpresence and
A2/ADcapabilitiesinthe BalticSea.
Hard powerisnow more than everessential tosecuringUKcredibilityonthe worldstage.Though
our internationaldevelopmentbudgetisone of the highestrelativetoGDPthe UK softpower
balance hasbeenhithard by the Brexitvote andisunstable.Our2% of GDP defence spendingisa
crucial elementinourstatusinNATOand makesthe UK a substantial playerbehindthe USinan
importantforumof international influence.
If capabilitygapsoccur regularlylike the Harpoon,replacingthe Type 23's before the new Type 26's
enterservice,the Type 45's havingfurtherengine problemsoras in2011 in Libyawhena Type 23
frigate onlycarriedfourseawolf airdefence missilesthenUKcredibilityasaworldpowerwill be hit
hard.
Thisis notto say that the UK isnot a capable militarypower.The UKarmedforcesare inthe middle
of a quite substantial force developmentanddefence acquisitioncycle whichincludethe HMS
QueenElizabethAircraftCarrierbeginningseatrialsinSpring2017, four brandnew Royal Fleet
AuxilliaryTideclasstankersinservice by2018, the DreadnoughtclasssuccessorSSBN'sbeing
confirmedandthe cuttingof steel forthe Type 26 Global CombatShipconfirmedforsummer2017.
Post-Brexitandinatime of rapidlyshiftingpolitical andinternational affairs,NATOandhardmilitary
powerremainsone of the stalwartforumsforthe UK to protectitscredibilityandimage.Capability
gaps can quicklypose problemsandthe UK Ministryof Defence shouldthinkverycarefullyabout

2. any future gapsthat may occur and whetherornottheyare worththe risk at such a precarioustime
for Britain.Capabilitygapsshouldbe monitoredbybothnational governmentsandNATOforce
structuresto ensure thateithersubstitutescanbe foundorthat NATOcan require defence
ministriestodelayscrappingasystemuntil anew replacementisinservice.Thisdual approachcan
make capabilitygapslesslikelyinthe future andenable fullerco-operationbetweenNATOand
national Force structures.
The UK governmenthasanobligationtofulfill itsparttowardscollective securityanddefence forthe
NATOblocand what youdo wrong is far more oftenrememberedthanwhatyoudorightand Albion
mustremainvigilant.
ConnorSmartstudied InternationalRelationsatthe University of Plymouth.Hehashis own current
affairsblog and is currently an intern atthe LegatumInstitute.
Link:
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