Attempts to resolve conflicts may be negatively impacted due to reductions in the foreign aid budget, according to the Prime Minister's caution.
In a bold move, a group of over 60 influential public figures — including ex-spies, top military brass, and prominent politicians — have penned a letter urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to pump more of the reduced UK overseas aid budget into preventing wars. These heavyweights warn of a looming global conflict crisis with one hand tied behind our back if we fail to act.
The missive, obtained by our website, paints a grim picture with violent conflicts affecting more countries than any time since World War II. These conflicts are not only wreaking havoc on economies but also drawing the world's attention away from pressing issues like human rights, climate change, and gender equality.
Among the noteworthy signatories are Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller and Lord Jonathan Evans, former directors-general of the MI5, and Lord Mark Sedwill, a former national security adviser.
They argue that a strong national security can only be achieved by investing not just in defense, but also in development and diplomacy. This call to action does not involve reversing the decision to shrink the overseas aid budget to 0.3% of GDP from 0.5% by 2027 to fund a boost in defense spending. Instead, their focus is on the proportion of the dwindling international development budget spent on conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
A ratio of 4% of total overseas aid spending on conflict prevention and peacebuilding was achieved in 2018. However, current estimates suggest this ratio has dwindled to between 1 and 1.5%. The signatories are urging the prime minister to restore this ratio to the equivalent of 4%.
The group aspires to see an all-encompassing government approach to addressing violent conflict included in the upcoming national security strategy expected to be published before the NATO summit next week.
Joining the cause are General Lord Richard Dannatt, a former head of the army, Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston KCB, a former head of the Royal Air Force, Tan Dhesi MP, chair of the defense select committee, and Sarah Champion MP, chair of the international development committee.
Initiatives like the "Women, Peace and Security" agenda, which the UK has previously advocated for, may face the ax due to cuts to the aid budget. The signatories raise concerns about the potential disappearance of these initiatives, viewing it as a false economy as unresolved conflicts lead to further insecurity, displacement, and humanitarian crises that the military and aid agencies must address.
The letter written by influential public figures, including ex-spies, military leaders, and politicians, urges Prime Minister Keir Starmer to increase the allocation of the reduced UK overseas aid budget towards preventing wars and conflicts. They advocate for a strong national security by investing not only in defense but also in development and diplomacy, with a particular focus on the proportion of the dwindling international development budget spent on conflict prevention and peacebuilding. The signatories are calling for the restoration of the ratio of 4% of total overseas aid spending on conflict prevention and peacebuilding, a level that was achieved in 2018 but has since dwindled. Additionally, they aim to see an all-inclusive approach to conflict resolution in the upcoming national security strategy, and they express concern over possible cuts to initiatives like the "Women, Peace and Security" agenda, arguing that the disappearance of such programs would lead to further insecurity and humanitarian crises.
