Former NATO chief warns of national security risk
The UK’s security is “in peril”, and its approach to defence spending shows “corrosive complacency”, according to former NATO secretary general Lord George Robertson.
In a speech due to be delivered on Tuesday, Lord Robertson will argue that Britain is underprepared for emerging global threats and has failed to prioritise long-term defence investment.
He is expected to warn that the country is facing a widening gap between military capability and security demands.
Criticism of the Treasury and funding delays
Lord Robertson, who also served as a Labour defence secretary and authored the government’s Strategic Defence Review, is expected to accuse “non-military experts in the Treasury” of “vandalism” over delays to the 10-year defence investment plan.
He has told the Financial Times that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is “not willing to make the necessary investment” required to deliver the review’s recommendations.
The Strategic Defence Review set out 62 recommendations aimed at modernising the UK armed forces, including a shift towards “war-fighting readiness” and a more integrated military structure.
Government defends defence investment
A government spokesperson rejected the criticism, saying the UK defence spending plan is backed by “the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War”, with more than £270 billion allocated across the current Parliament.
Officials also confirmed a target to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP by the end of the next Parliament and 3.5% by 2035.
Call for difficult budget choices
Lord Robertson is expected to argue that defence cannot be strengthened without difficult fiscal decisions, stating: “We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.”
Defence spending currently stands at 2.3% of GDP, while welfare spending exceeds 10% of GDP, according to government figures.
Political and strategic pressure
The debate over UK defence spending comes amid growing pressure from NATO allies to increase military budgets following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ongoing instability in the Middle East.
NATO members have agreed on a long-term commitment to raise defence spending levels, while concerns persist over the UK’s military readiness.
Military readiness concerns
Senior defence figures have warned that Britain’s armed forces are too small and under-resourced to respond to multiple global threats.
However, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out direct UK military involvement in the current Iran conflict, emphasising the need for legal justification and strategic planning.
Also read: Trump criticises NATO over Iran, raises Greenland issue again
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