UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a £15 billion defence investment plan to modernise Britain’s armed forces. The plan, which will see spending of nearly £80 billion a year by 2029, aims to prepare for the wars of the future and strengthen Britain’s defence.
Defence Investment Plan
The plan includes funding of £5 billion for investment in drones and autonomous weapons, creating a hybrid navy, and making the army more lethal. It will also strengthen Britain’s nuclear deterrent and bolster a programme to build a next-generation stealth fighter jet for the Royal Air Force.
Starmer said the plan would create jobs and boost growth, and that it was a ‘huge historic shift’ for the nation. However, critics have expressed concerns that the plan may not be enough to make Britain war-ready, particularly in the face of potential threats from Russia.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed Britain’s plan, saying it was a ‘good step towards reaching the 3.5% of GDP on defence agreed in The Hague last year’. The plan is expected to take Britain to 4.2% under that commitment.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
