New British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized his intention to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP and said that the corresponding strategic review of the defense sector, necessary to increase spending, will begin next week.
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In a statement published on the British government’s website, Starmer stressed the UK’s continued commitment to devoting 2.5% of GDP to defense to respond to growing threats.
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“The Prime Minister also confirmed today that he will launch the government’s strategic review of the defense sector next week, taking into account detailed preparatory work by Defense Secretary John Healey, who will oversee the review,” the government website said.
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Based on the results of the corresponding review, the country’s authorities will draw up a roadmap for increasing spending, provide reform of government procurement in the military industry and draw up a “new defense-industrial strategy.” The statement notes that Starmer will also call on allies to increase defense spending at the NATO summit in Washington.
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As it was previously reported, several former senior British military officials have raised concerns about the current state of Western defense capabilities and said the new Labor government is “playing with fire” by delaying a decision to increase UK defense spending to 2.5% of GDP until a major overhaul of the armed forces is carried out.
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Earlier, the British Government’s Defense Committee reported that the British Army was unprepared for a potential large-scale and prolonged war due to a shortage of personnel, as well as problems associated with recruiting and retaining military personnel.
