Why Starmer must raise defence spending fast |
Britain’s armed forces lack the mass, readiness and resilience needed to produce a credible deterrent in an era of intensifying threats. The danger comes not only from an aggressive and expansionist Russia but from a reckless and murderous Iranian régime with its back currently to the wall, while China continues to use any means at its disposal to advance its interests globally. To begin to meet these threats, His Majesty’s government must give an absolute and unqualified commitment to increase core defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP, with a clear timeline for delivery. This cannot wait.
This argument has been set out in an open letter to the Prime Minister by the analysis and advocacy group Defence on the Brink. Full disclosure: I am a member and contributing editor at Defence on the Brink, which was founded by my colleagues Ted Jeffery and Col (Ret’d) Philip Ingram, along with Col (Ret’d) Simon Diggins and Cormac Smith.
But you don’t have to take our word for it. The letter has been signed by more than 30 senior figures in defence and security, including three former defence secretaries, a former chief of the general staff, a former first sea lord, an ex-chief of the Secret Intelligence Service and three ex-chairs of the House of Commons defence committee. These are people who have earned a hearing.
Too many people are underestimating the danger of the current geopolitical situation. It is easy to argue that Russian........