The Imperial Ambitions of a "Middle Power" (from the Concept of "Global Britain" to "Progressive Realism")

On the eve of leaving the EU, the British government began to develop a foreign policy concept, which was called "Global Britain" and formalized in the national security strategy "Global Britain in the Era of Competition" (2021). The United Kingdom positioned itself as a "middle power" with interests almost all over the world and democratic countries as allies in the fight against authoritarian regimes. The need for a new version of the document (2023) arose in London in connection with the intensification of systemic competition, the beginning of Russia's military operation in Ukraine. Under the influence of Washington, Britain has also toughened its position towards China, retaining the previous wording regarding Russia - "the most acute threat". The creation and strengthening of alliances in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific is the task set by the Government of R. Sunak, departing from the principle of interaction exclusively with countries that share democratic values. On the eve of the 2024 parliamentary elections, the Labour Party unveiled its concept of "progressive realism". The main postulates: the priority security zone is the Euro-Atlantic, preparations for ensuring security by the forces of European countries (to conclude a pact with the EU on security and defense) in the context of the reorientation of Britain's main ally, the United States, to counter China; the destruction of the alliance of China and Russia; a departure from the priority of the value organizing principle of international relations "democracy vs authoritarianism" to the pragmatic principle of a "rules-based order" in order to attract the countries of the "Global South" by partially satisfying their interests. The victory of the Labour Party in the 2024 general election means that the foundations of the Conservatives' foreign policy course will be preserved with situational adjustments.