1. The Strategic Defence Review remains the foundation of the government’s defence policy, plans and programme, reshaping and modernising our Armed Forces to meet new realities.

2. Defence is a long term business which requires consistency of purpose in the development both of our policy and of our military capability. The Review therefore looked well into the 21st Century to provide a clear vision of the role of our Armed Forces in a changing world. That vision remains valid today. But it is a dynamic vision, rather than a single snapshot. Success depends on regularly updating our analysis of the evolving strategic context, assessing its implications for future defence needs, and adjusting our detailed policy and planning objectives accordingly.

3. As with the Strategic Defence Review itself, the government believes that Parliament and the public must be given a clear account of the evolution of our thinking. This paper therefore:

• summarises our reassessment of the future strategic context and draws out the implications for our forces;

• summarises current defence policy priorities at the beginning of 2001.