Britain Defense: According to Rishi Sunak, Britain will boost defense spending to 2.5% of GDP, which will result in additional billions of pounds in spending.
Former defense minister James Heappey applauded the prime minister’s decision to increase defense spending to reach the target by 2030. Heappey, who resigned last month, described it as “hugely needed” and “enormous news,” and he called for an increase in defense spending.
Speaking while visiting Poland, he urged other European nations to do the same and issued a dire warning about Russia’s threat to the continent’s security going forward.
According to the Independent, Rishi Sunak declared that £10 billion would be allocated to expanding the country’s air defense capabilities and its armament stockpiles.
He plans to almost double the yearly expenditure on arms production, concentrating on the development of artillery shells, lasers, anti-tank rockets, and hypersonic missiles. To develop weapons, a new Defense Innovation Agency will be established, modeled after the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
The plan calls for Britain to increase its defense spending by £4.5 billion in 2028–2029, with the Civil Service being cut for two thirds of the total cost.
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Mr. Sunak said, “In a world that is the most dangerous it has been since the end of the Cold War, we cannot be complacent.
“As our adversaries align, we must do more to defend our country, our interests, and our values. That is why today I am announcing the biggest strengthening of our national defence for a generation.
“We will increase defence spending to a new baseline of 2.5% of GDP by 2030 – a plan that delivers an additional £75 billion for defence by the end of the decade and secures our place as by far the largest defence power in Europe.
“Today is a turning point for European security and a landmark moment in the defence of the United Kingdom. It is a generational investment in British security and British prosperity, which makes us safer at home and stronger abroad.”
The UK’s military budget is expected to spend £64.6 billion this year, or slightly more than 2.3% of GDP.
After increasing to £67.5 billion the following year and £71 billion in 2026–2027, that amount will rise even faster to a total of £87.1 billion in 2030–2031 years.
The announcement, according to Downing Street, set “a new standard” for other European nations. The yearly increase in the NATO budget would be over £140 billion if all member nations raised their spending to 2.5%.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt claimed that the action proved the UK’s “commitment to peace and security in Europe” and that the “improving economy” had made it possible.
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“It also sends the clearest possible message to Putin that he will never be able to outspend countries that believe in freedom and democracy as other Nato European countries match this commitment, which they will,” the speaker stated.
There are plans to reduce the number of civil servants to pre-Brexit levels, which will directly fund the increase in spending. Reducing the number of Whitehall officials by 70,000 by 2028–2029, according to Downing Street, would save £2.9 billion, or two thirds of the £4.5 billion increase.
According to ministers, the remaining £1.6 billion would come from money set aside for research and development.
Tory MPs, including Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, have been pressuring the prime minister for months to boost military spending to help counter the Russian threat.
Earlier this month, Mr. Shapps stated, “I do believe that it’s a more dangerous world,” and he called for spending to rise to three percent of GDP.
To defend the UK from future rocket attacks, prominent Conservatives demanded last week that the government fund the installation of a new “Iron Dome” air defense system.
The vice-chief of staff for the armed forces, General Gwyn Jenkins, will become the prime minister’s new national security adviser, the announcement was made on Tuesday. General Jenkins, who will be the first person with a military background to hold the position, will take over for Sir Tim Barrow, a diplomat who is relocating to become ambassador to the US.
Three former Tory defense secretaries urged Mr. Sunak to pledge in his party’s election manifesto to raise defense spending to three percent of GDP last month. It occurred after the Ministry of Defense did not receive any additional funding from the budget, even in light of the dangerous circumstances in Ukraine.
Together, Sir Michael Fallon, Sir Gavin Williamson, and Ben Wallace led the Ministry of Defence for nearly ten years, and they maintained that the Armed Forces needed to be guaranteed three percent of their budget.
