Caption: The British government is working towards increasing defense spending to 2.5% of the country’s national income by 2027. Image: Richard Pohle/AP.
(The Post News)– The UK is preparing for its largest increase in defense spending since the end of the Cold War as part of an effort to demonstrate resolve in response to Moscow.
Westminster is set to respond to a strategic defense review on Monday, led by Defence Secretary John Healey and former NATO Secretary General George Robertson. Considered the most significant since the end of the Soviet Union in 1991, the review is expected to offer a range of recommendations to help the UK address evolving challenges, both in traditional military domains and in cyberspace.
Like other NATO members, the UK has been prompted to reassess its defense spending considering Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
While speaking to BBC News, Healey said that it gives Moscow a clear message. Hayley added that as a sign of our readiness to battle if necessary, Britain is standing by and strengthening both our armed forces and our industrial foundation.
The plan is expected to include a commitment of £1.5 billion (€1.78 billion) for the construction of six new munitions factories, aimed at revitalising the UK’s industrial base.
Healey further said that Russia is “attacking the U.K. daily” with cyberattacks, claiming that over the last two years, state-affiliated sources had attempted about 90,000 strikes against the nation’s defence systems. Plans for the study are anticipated to include the creation of a specialised cyber command to assist in addressing these persistent issues.
During a visit to a factory on Saturday where Storm Shadow missiles are assembled, Healey shared that the government intends to support the procurement of up to 7,000 U.K.-built long-range weapons. He also noted that new funding is expected to bring U.K. munitions spending to around £6 billion over the coming years.
“Six billion over the next five years in factories like this which allow us not just to produce the munitions that equip our forces for the future but to create the jobs in every part of the U.K.,” he said.
Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary for the main opposition Conservative Party, expressed appreciation for the government’s pledge to boost defense spending.
While he voiced some reservations about whether the Treasury would fully support the commitment, he encouraged the government to consider a more ambitious target, suggesting that raising spending to 3% of national income within the current parliamentary term, which could continue until 2029, would demonstrate stronger long-term dedication.
“We think that 2034 is a long time to wait, given the gravity of the situation,” said Jenrick to Sky News.
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