In a muscular speech at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) today, the Foreign Secretary laid out an ambitious vision for Britain to “out-compete, out-cooperate, and out-innovate” threats to its security and economic future.
His remarks came as a wake-up call for the UK to assert a harder edge and project strength on the global stage through leadership in emerging technologies.
The World at an Inflection Point
Delivering his address against the backdrop of the state-of-the-art National Cyber Security Centre headquarters, the Foreign Secretary wasted no time setting the tone. He warned that the “familiar bedrocks of the 20th century order are shifting” as technological disruption, economic integration, and new geopolitical fissures reshape the global landscape.
“We find ourselves at an inflection point where inaction is not an option,” he declared. “Complacency about our security and prosperity would be an grave act of self-harm.”
A Three-Pronged Strategy
To meet these complex challenges head-on, the Foreign Secretary outlined a multipronged British grand strategy:
- Bolstering national cyber defenses and offensive capabilities
- Fostering a whole-of-society culture of innovation and R&D investment
- Cultivating a network of trusted international partnerships
“We will invest whatever it takes to guarantee British citizens’ safety,” he pledged, citing the billion-pound annual cost of cybercrime. “But security alone is not enough. We must fire every ENGINE of our national ingenuity to develop the technologies that will secure our digital future.”
As an illustration, he pointed to the UK’s strengths in fields like:
- Quantum computing
- Artificial intelligence
- 5G and future networks
Key UK Tech Stats |
|---|
| £39B invested in digital sector (2022) |
| 3M digital tech workforce (3rd globally) |
| 37% of digital unicorns from Europe (2022) |
“We punch well above our weight,” he said. “Now is the time to leverage that capability to get ahead of the curve on emerging threats.”
Strengthening Old Ties, Forging New Alliances
The Foreign Secretary underscored that the UK cannot go it alone, calling partnerships “an existential necessity in this interdependent world.”
He reaffirmed enduring alliances like NATO while indicating openness to new configurations (without going into specifics).
“On every continent, we will seek out like-minded allies who share our profound faith in freedom, democracy, and global prosperity,” he said. “Collective security is the only path to collective success.”
Merging Domestic and Foreign Policy
In a notable aside, the Foreign Secretary asserted that addressing domestic headwinds around economic disparity, immigration, and social cohesion is as critical to projecting strength abroad as any foreign policy initiative.
“How can we trumpet our values overseas when our nation is plagued by division and drift?” he asked frankly. “Healing at home is a prerequisite for leading on the world stage.”
An Optimistic Call to Action
Closing on an oratorical flourish, the Foreign Secretary expressed confidence that “the entrepreneurial spirit, scientific curiosity, and sheer grit of the British people” will ultimately prevail in this era of compounded threats.
“The road ahead will be arduous, but our capability to overcome knows no bounds,” he proclaimed to rousing applause. “It is a race we cannot afford to lose – so let us go forth and once again show global Britain can out-innovate, out-cooperate, and yes, out-compete any challenge.”
The speech marked the government’s most forceful articulation yet of its techno-economic agenda. A policy roadmap outlining specific initiatives is expected in the coming weeks.
For more details and analysis, visit the THX Foreign Affairs Desk at
Sources: THX News & Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office & The Rt Hon Lord Cameron.
