Britain bolsters defense with intent to send a signal to Russia, also addressing concerns from Trump.
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UK EMBARKS ON AGGRESSIVE MILITARY REBOOT: A FISTFUL OF SUBS AND MORE FOR THE NEW-LOOK ARMY
Britain has vowed to transform its military forces, serving as both a warning to Russia and a tool to ward off any potential European conflict, Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared Monday. Channelling a Cold War-like mindset, the Labour Party leader announced that the nation would revert to becoming a menacing, heavily-armed nation — ready for combat in Europe.
Starmer underscored the growing threat from Russia, promising the most significant military overhaul since the Soviet Union's demise over three decades ago. "Our adversaries are becoming bolder and more dangerous. The threats we live in today are more severe, imminent, and unpredictable than at any time since the Cold War," he sternly emphasized to a crowd of veterans and journalists at a naval shipyard in Scotland.
A new era of perils
Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022, NATO members, including the UK, have been revising their defense strategies. The current government has outlined its new defense tactics in response to a strategic defense review spearheaded by George Robertson — a previous UK defense secretary and NATO secretary-general. Since 2021, this is the first review of its kind, conducted amidst a world destabilized by Russia's military campaign in Ukraine and the reelection of President Donald Trump.
Just months after the release of the last major defense review, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson confidently stated that large-scale tank battles on European soil were a thing of the past. However, mere months later, Russian tanks embarked on Ukraine.
Starmer's Labour government intends to follow every one of the 62 recommendations put forth in the review, strategizing to prepare the United Kingdom for a variety of challenges on land, air, sea, and cyberspace.
Nuclear subs and deadly weaponry
Key measures include amping up the production of submarines and weapons under the AUKUS partnership with Australia and the US, and "embracing the lessons of Ukraine" - a reference to Ukraine's rapid development of drone technology to defend against Moscow's forces.
The government will invest £20.3 billion in Britain's nuclear arsenal. A total of 12 new nuclear-powered, conventionally-armed submarines are planned. The stockpiles of conventional weapons will also grow, with six new munitions factories and up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons slated for production. The U.K. will also bolster its air defenses with a £1 billion investment.
In addition, the UK will establish a cyber command to counter the constant and Russia-linked attacks faced by its defenses. To counteract these threats from the cyber realm, the U.K. will invest in technological innovations and develop new airborne and land drones.
Moreover, the UK is planning to set up a home guard to protect critical national infrastructure as part of a "whole-of-society approach" to defense. Unsurprisingly, the newly created home guard has been derisively dubbed another "Dad's Army," as a nod to the World War II-set sitcom.
Rearming Britain, as Starmer advocates, will lead to the creation of numerous well-paid manufacturing jobs, offering a significant contrast to the "peace dividend" of the post-Cold War era that led to money being diverted from defense spending to other areas.
Deterrence at any cost
Defense Secretary John Healey revealed that this military renaissance will send a clear message to Moscow, altering the country's military landscape following decades of retrenchment. However, it is unclear when soldier numbers — currently at a 200-year low of about 74,000 — will increase.
Plans to elevate defense spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027 are on track, as per Healey, and it is expected that this rate will escalate to 3% before 2034. But Starmer has clarified that the 3% objective is an aspiration rather than a binding commitment. The financially cash-strapped Treasury's ability to procure the necessary funds remains uncertain. The government has already limited international aid spending to reach the 2.5% target, setting off contentious debate.
"A defense review without funding is an empty wish list," defense spokesman for the main opposition Conservative Party, James Cartlidge, reproached.
Even with the proposed 3% spending on defense, European leaders are calling for a commitment to spend at least 3.5% of GDP on defense when they convene in the Netherlands this month.
In a broader context, this defense upgrade is also viewed as a response to the calls from former President Trump for NATO members to invest more on their own defense. European countries, spearheaded by the UK and France, have been working together to align their defense strategies with the evolving foreign policy of the US, as it appears to be stepping aside from the European theater.
Starmer reaffirmed that the UK would make "Britain's biggest contribution to NATO since its creation," and vowed, "We will never face war unaccompanied. Our defense policy will always be NATO-first." Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at defense think tank RUSI, noted that the review outlined "a vision...of what the armed forces should look like in the future" but was missing key details — merely outlining the intentions, rather than a comprehensive roadmap.
- The government's defense strategies are being revised in response to war-and-conflicts, specifically the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and the political climate created by policy-and-legislation, such as the strategic defense review led by George Robertson.
- In line with the defense review, the government plans to invest heavily in technology, including drone and cyber capabilities, as part of their efforts to counter threats on land, air, sea, and cyberspace.
- The government's aggressive military reboot, including the production of nuclear submarines and conventional weapons, is expected to create numerous well-paid jobs in the business sector, offering a stark contrast to the post-Cold War era.
- politics is a key factor in the UK's decision to rearm, with the government aiming to make "Britain's biggest contribution to NATO since its creation" and align their defense strategies with the evolving foreign policy of the US, particularly in the context of general-news events such as the calls from former President Trump for NATO members to invest more on their own defense.
