The Illusion of the British Empire resurrection – Part One
By: Contribution for Syrializm
It may be ironic that Britain needs a leader to make Britain great again!
Does Britain need its own version of Donald Trump, or perhaps its own Winston Churchill?
In any case, the crisis Britain is experiencing, and what some within it may be preoccupied with dreams of a return to the Golden era, is not necessarily related to someone coming from somewhere in Britain to play the role of the Messiah. Rather, the problem in Britain is one of the sagging of the entity itself and the radical transformations that have occurred in its societal makeup, the identity and faith crisis, which no secret today, that the UK is facing today. All that caused a drastic changing way of thinking at the majority of the new generation of British citizens, whom coming from different faiths and ethnic backgrounds, which mainly was as a result of demographic composition changing of the country through the increasing number of immigrants. Britain’s situation is no different from that of most of its European neighbors, who face three kinds of dilemmas:
- A shortage of labor, particularly skilled and qualified labor, which forced them to support accepting refugees to fill that gap – as that caused the second;
- The conflict between right-wing and left-wing nationalist thought, regarding the country’s identity, an issue that primarily stems from the rise in immigration;
- The threats that European leaders have placed themselves in, and have taken their peoples with them, as a result of a set of reckless policies resulting from shortsightedness, stubbornness, political and strategic stupidity, and a denial of the realities of material and geography.
Regarding the immigrants in the British case, which is similar to France somehow, most of them technically come from countries that were former British colonies, as some might say that Britain is obligated to do all of these things, as its primarily responsible for the deteriorating conditions in their countries, which has driven people to emigrate in search of a better life. Therefore, the changing demographic fabric of the country has nevertheless contributed to changing patterns of thinking. Perhaps the most influential factor in the idea of the impossibility of Great Britain’s return to its glory as “the empire on which the sun never sets” is the economic conditions and the actual inability to find funding to raise that aging empire and bring it back from the ashes of the old history. Yes, Queen Elizabeth II has passed away after half a century, but the current king is her son, Charles, who, based on reports of his health, won’t be around for long. And before anyone points out that the monarch has no authority to rule, we hasten to say that the situation at 10 Downing Street is no better than at Buckingham Palace!
Over the past decade, a group of idiots have taken turns leading the government, from “Hag” Theresa May to “Clown” Boris Johnson (the godfather of Brexit), to “Lunatic” Liz Truss and “Flamboyant boy toy” Rishi Sunak. Yes, all are Tories (Conservatives) – today, the Labor Party has returned to power, yet the situation has not changed. Keir Starmer is no different from his Conservative predecessors.
Ask any British citizen, name one decent person who was successful as prime minister in the UK?
They all lack the charisma, leadership, prestige, and ability to fill a position of the stature of British Prime Minister.
The real crisis, in addition to the individuals, stems from the establishment itself. We mean here the two traditional political poles in Britain, the Conservatives and Labor. As a result of the pattern of British politics over the past few years, inevitably linked to changing local and regional circumstances in Europe, and even internationally, and the significant shift in the fabric of British society driven by significantly declining economic conditions and changing demographics, the two parties are no longer very different from each other, and that has opened the door for other parties to enter the British political arena for the first time in centuries.
According to the latest statistics, the lead is now narrowly tied between the ruling Labor Party, which holds 26.3% of the vote, followed by the Reform UK Party, led by Nigel Farage, which holds 24.6%, and the Conservative Party, which holds 22.1%. Thus, the three parties hold a combined 73% of the support in Britain, with a group of less popular parties sharing varying shares of the remaining 27%.
After this introduction, which sheds light on the general situation in Britain, particularly its political situation, we turn to examining the most important instrument of power: military power, which was the cornerstone of the British Empire.
Eye on the past
With the end of the Dark Ages in Europe, King Henry VIII rebelled against the authority of the Pope in Rome, England became religiously and sectarianly independent from the rest of the European kingdoms.
This was followed by the England tightening its grip on the island and its surroundings, after the Welsh, Scots and Irish became subject to English rule. Britain embarked on a social revolution that began with an industrial revolution, driven by new inventions and advanced technologies that saw the light as we entered the eighteenth century. Accompanied by the expansion of British naval power to dominate the seas, not to mention its successful confrontations in several wars it fought with a number of other European countries, such as Spain and France.
The revolution in production and industry forced the young British Empire, striving for greatness and global dominance, to realize the reality of the situation: the massive industrial machine now required raw materials. It was also imperative to find additional markets for British production and to generate more money and wealth, most of which was spent on developing and developing the British military machine and power.
From here, imperialist thought emerged, based on the pillars of European culture of the Roman Empire and the authority of the Church, which launched the Crusades toward the East. Thus, there was a foundation in European thought and strategy in general, and British thought in particular, based on the reality of the situation: the relatively small size of the country and the scarcity of resources. Consequently, expansion and control over other lands and peoples became an urgent necessity.
All of this required human, financial, and military power, which was achieved through reliance on Britain’s special capabilities as an empire, and the exploitation of the resources of the colonized countries, not to mention the manpower of those lands. During the twentieth century, the empire’s sun began to set, following two world wars and the failed Suez War of 1956.
This was followed by the establishment of the vacuum theory under US President Eisenhower, which enabled the United States to replace the two colonial powers, France and Britain, and control most of their spheres of influence. The world entered the Cold War era, with an Eastern pole represented by the Soviet Union and a Western pole represented by the United States, with Britain, once a colony of American lands, took a back seat, becoming subservient to Washington and its policies.
Power is the first tool of greatness
Today, as of the most recent data, the United Kingdom maintains approximately 145 military bases and facilities worldwide.
These include both permanent bases and smaller, temporary installations, as the UK’s global military presence is part of its defense strategy and international commitments, with significant bases in locations such as Cyprus, Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, and the Middle East, as well as partnerships with other nations through agreements like the Five Power Defense Arrangements in Southeast Asia.
Given the scale of the commitment Britain has placed on itself, many are raising questions about the actual benefits Britain derives from its continued presence at all these bases.
This is especially true given the operating costs and the staggering budgets London requires to keep everything running in all these regions, as well as the availability of realistic and implementable plans and strategies for emergencies and any sudden event, such as what Argentina did, perhaps in the Falklands War of 1982. As the current situation with the ongoing economic crises, and the significant decline in the UK capabilities in various fields, perhaps if the UK experience a similar event as the Falklands War today, it would not be able to do much.
Numbers defies the myth of power
And since the numbers speak for themselves, we are talking about a defense budget. The UK defense budget for 2023-2024 is approximately £50 billion ($64.6 billion), which is around 2.2% of the total UK’s GDP, and this spending is supposed to cover the British government’s commitment to maintaining and modernizing its armed forces, with its mentioned above 145 military bases and facilities worldwide, amid global security challenges!
To put this into context with the total UK government budget, which is around £1.2 trillion ($1.5 trillion) for the same period, the defense budget constitutes roughly 4.2% of the total government expenditure. These figures can vary slightly depending on the specific allocations and supplementary budgets that may be introduced throughout the fiscal year.
It’s also worth noting that, the UK’s budget deficit is estimated to be around 5.1% of GDP for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, as this figure represents the gap between government spending and revenue, influenced by factors such as economic recovery post-pandemic, inflation, and fiscal policies. With this look at the numbers, and observing the deterioration of public services in Britain, since Brexit from the European Union, not to mention the large number of social and living problems that the British facing daily, it has become nonsense to consider Britain a great country.
To confirm this nonsense, let us take a look at the current British military capabilities, which for years have been a fertile ground for a group of strategic experts and former officers in the British Army, who have repeatedly expressed the deplorable conditions that “His Majesty’s army” has reached!
The British Army’s military power is a combination of its personnel, equipment, and technological capabilities The UK maintains a modern, well-equipped military force, though smaller in size compared to some other major powers, nonetheless this doesn’t apply to the criteria which “Greatness” should look like.
Personnel
Active Personnel: Approximately 82,000 (regular forces).
Reserve Forces: Around 30,000 (Army Reserve).
Small Arms and Infantry Weapons
L85A3 Assault Rifle: The standard issue rifle for British troops.
L129A1 Sharpshooter Rifle: For designated marksmen.
Minimi Light Machine Gun: For squad-level fire support.
Anti-Tank Weapons: Includes the NLAW (Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon) and Javelin missile systems.
Main Battle Tanks
Challenger 2: The British Army operates 227 Challenger 2 main battle tanks, though this number is being reduced to 148 as part of modernization efforts.
These tanks are being upgraded to the Challenger 3 variant, which will feature improved firepower, armor, and sensors.
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs)
Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs): Approximately 380 Warriors, though these are being phased out and replaced by the Ajax family of vehicles.
Ajax Vehicles: Over 500 Ajax vehicles (in various configurations, including reconnaissance, armored personnel carriers, and support roles) are planned, with deliveries ongoing.
Other AFVs: Includes the Bulldog (upgraded FV430 series), Mastiff, Jackal, and Foxhound for protected mobility and reconnaissance.
Logistics and Support Vehicles
Thousands of logistics vehicles, including the MAN SV trucks and specialized support vehicles for engineering, medical, and communication roles.
Cyber and Electronic Warfare
The British Army has invested heavily in cyber capabilities and electronic warfare systems to counter modern threats.
Artillery
AS90 Self-Propelled Howitzers: 89 in service, though these are being replaced by the Boxer-based artillery system.
MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket Systems): 35 M270 MLRS systems for long-range precision strikes.
L118 Light Guns: 126 towed artillery pieces for rapid deployment.
Air Defense
Sky Sabre: A modern air defense system replacing the Rapier, capable of engaging aircraft, drones, and missiles.
Starstreak MANPADS: A high-speed, short-range air defense system.
Storm Shadow missiles should be mentioned, a long-range cruise missiles category.
Given Britain’s provision of these missiles to Ukraine and their high manufacturing costs, their availability to British forces is likely limited, should they be forced to use them extensively in any future major military conflict, and to know, the cost of one missile is £2 million (approximately $2.5 million).
Aircraft
Eurofighter Typhoon: ~130, F-35B Lightning II: ~30 (with more on order, planned fleet of 138)
Support and Transport Aircraft: A400M Atlas: ~20, C-17 Globemaster III: ~8, Voyager KC2/KC3 (A330 MRTT): ~14.
Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR): RC-135W Rivet Joint: ~3, P-8A Poseidon: ~9 (on order, some delivered), Reaper (MQ-9A): ~10.
Training Aircraft: Hawk T1/T2: ~75, Tucano T1: ~10 (phased out), Phenom T1: ~5.
Helicopters: Chinook HC5/HC6: ~60, Puma HC2: ~20, Wildcat HMA2: ~25.
Apache AH-64E Attack Helicopters: 50 upgraded Apache helicopters for close air support and anti-tank operations.
Wildcat AH1: 34 multi-role reconnaissance helicopters.
Other Helicopters: Includes Bell 212 and Bell 412 for utility and transport roles.
BAE 146: ~4 (used for VIP transport)
Shadow R1: ~6 (ISR)
These numbers are currently under change due to ongoing modernization, retirements, and new acquisitions, with a focus on having more F-35B, P-8A Poseidon, and Protector RG1 (MQ-9B) drones.
Navy Force
The Royal Navy was the pride of Britain for centuries, as its one of the world’s most capable and technologically advanced.
Aircraft Carriers: HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), HMS Prince of Wales (R09)
Destroyers: Type 45 Destroyers (Daring-class): Six ships, including HMS Daring, HMS Dauntless, and HMS Diamond.
Frigates: Type 23 Frigates (Duke-class): Currently being replaced by the Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, Type 26 Frigates (City-class) Under construction, with HMS Glasgow being the first, Type 31 Frigates (Inspiration-class): Five planned, with HMS Venturer as the lead ship.
Littoral Strike Ships: HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark (amphibious assault ships).
Submarine Fleet: Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBNs).
Vanguard-class: Four submarines, including HMS Vanguard, HMS Victorious, HMS Vigilant, and HMS Vengeance (being replaced by the Dreadnought-class).
Attack Submarines (SSNs): Astute-class: Seven planned, with HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, HMS Artful, HMS Audacious, HMS Anson, HMS Agamemnon, and HMS Agincourt.
Support and Auxiliary Ships: Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels, including tankers and supply ships like RFA Tideforce and RFA Fort Victoria.
Naval Aviation: F-35B Lightning II jets (operating from the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers).
Merlin and Wildcat helicopters for anti-submarine warfare and reconnaissance.
*As you can see, a large portion of British armament is American!
Nuclear Deterrent
While not part of the Army, the UK’s Trident nuclear submarine fleet (operated by the Royal Navy) forms a key part of its overall defense strategy, however, several resources says that, the entire nuclear capitalizes in the UK had become old, and constantly require reform and update, which is also not a cheap process.
Are all these capabilities enough to maintain the UK global military presence?
The British Army is undergoing a significant transformation under the Future Soldier program, which aims to make the force more agile, technologically advanced, and integrated with NATO allies, which for sure will add more burden the British economy. And to make matter even more complicated, since the war in Ukraine, the UK spear headed with other NATO members, to provide Ukraine all kind of support, in terms of money, weapons, equipment, and even mercenaries.
Today, and according to several experts, the British arms and ammunition stores are suffering from a terrifying shortage.
According to British experts and officers, if Britain were to face any military challenge, its stockpile of weapons and ammunition would be depleted within just ten days of fighting.
Is it an inferiority complex in front of Uncle Sam?
Inferiority complexes and dependence on the United States may drive some British fanatics to stubbornly stand up to the United States. The United States operates approximately 800 military bases in more than 70 countries around the world, which includes a mix of large installations, smaller outposts, and facilities used for training, logistics, and intelligence. The US defense budget is a significant portion of the federal budget and is one of the largest in the world, which is approximately $842 billion for fiscal year 2024. This figure includes funding for the Department of Defense, nuclear weapons programs under the Department of Energy, and other defense-related activities. The defense budget typically represents around 12-15% of the total federal budget.
For context: The total federal budget for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $6.9 trillion; This means the defense budget accounts for roughly 12.2% of the total federal budget. The US Defense spending as a percentage of the federal budget has declined over the decades.
During the Cold War, for example, it often exceeded 50% of the budget, however, in recent years, it has stabilized at around 12-15%, though it remains the largest discretionary spending category. However, successive wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have strained the US military budget over the past two decades, with the combined costs of those two wars exceeding $3 trillion.
In any case, the Americans are no better off than the British, as their capabilities and reserves have all been depleted in Ukraine, and the Americans are now burdened with unlimited and ongoing support for Israel. Even the United States today finds itself forced to keep pace with a new pattern of arms and influence race between it and China, without neglecting the Russian power, which still exists and poses a threat.
This is perhaps what is driving the current US administration to change its policies towards its allies to become more stringent, and to attempt to reach a rapprochement with Russia, perhaps in the hope of neutralizing it in the future, when a US-China confrontation is inevitable. The heavy burdens that have begun to weigh down the British lion, which has now become an old man and most of its fangs have already fallen out, require a serious self-examination.
The Brits find themselves, with their country’s past behind them with all its negatives and positives, and the harsh life they face today, looking towards an uncertain and dark future filled with doubts, which may become a reality when Britain is exposed to a violent shock, perhaps coming from an ally.
Thus, the series of exhaustion and suffering in Britain is destined to continue.
