The Strategic Defence Review includes 62 recommendations, which the government says it will accept, but no concrete commitment to raise defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP.
The UK is moving to a “warfighting readiness” and unveiled a multi-billion pound overhaul of the armed forces, but has fallen short of an iron-clad commitment to spend 3 per cent of GDP on defence.
Billions will be spent on “up to” 12 new nuclear submarines unveiled in the Strategic Defence Review published on Monday.
It underlines a commitment that the nuclear deterrent will be “at the heart of this investment”, says the government.
Defence Secretary John Healey, said:
“The world has changed. The threats we now face are more serious and less predictable than at any time since the Cold War, including war in Europe, growing Russian aggression, new nuclear risks, and daily cyber-attacks at home.”
The review contains 62 recommendations, all of which the government say it will endorse and accept.
Commitments in the review include:
– £1.5bn to build six new factories making munitions
– Building up to 7,000 long-range weapons, including missiles or drones, in the UK
– Setting up a “cyber and electromagnetic command” for online warfare
– £1.5bn to fund repairs to military housing
3 per cent an ‘ambition’
However, there is no concrete commitment to raise defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP, instead referring to it as an “ambition”.
The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, said: “We are delivering our commitment to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP in defence, accelerating it to 2207, and we have set the ambition to reach 3 per cent in the next parliament, subject to economic and fiscal conditions.
“This investment will end the hollowing out of our armed forces and enable the UK to step up, to lead in Nato, and take greater responsibility for our collective self-defence.”
‘Turbulent times’
Defence sources though point out that 2.5 per cent is now a floor and that the review makes clear spending can now be increased at very short notice.
The review notes: “However, as we live in such turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster.
“The plan we have put forward can be accelerated for either greater assurance or for mobilisation of Defence in a crisis.”
There is a greater focus on the use of technology and artificial intelligence.
The review says: “An immediate priority for face transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence within the UK’s conventional forces.
“As in Ukraine, this would provide greater accuracy, lethality, and cheaper capabilities – changing the economics of Defence.”
The review marks a step change in defence spending in light of growing global threats, but many in defence circles will question the likelihood of delivery – a sector that has been synonymous with delays and overspends of major products.
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge suggested his opposite number John Healey had been “hung out to dry by Rachel Reeves” over the 3 per cent target.
“All of Labour’s strategic defence review promises will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show there will actually be enough money to pay for them,” he said.
Lib Dem defence spokesperson Helen Maguire said the timeline for the commitment “suggests a worrying lack of urgency from the government”.
She added: “Unless Labour commits to holding cross-party talks on how to reach 3 per cent much more rapidly than the mid-2030s, this announcement risks becoming a damp squib.”
Watch more here:
UK needs to be ‘realistic’ on defence spending says economist
UK-EU deal: Could new defence spending boost growth?
Is the UK ready to spend more money on defence?
