Sir Tony Radakin, the UK chief of Defence Staff, has said that the government should spend more money on defence.
He said that his decision would not come as a surprise and that a person in his position would “always be looking for more money to spend on defence”.
Treasury Minister Darren Jones, who appeared on the same program, said that the government wants to increase defense spending from 2.3% of national income to 2.5%.
He did not specify when the goal would be achieved or if it would be before the next elections, which could take place as early as 2029.
Jones said that the government would not set a deadline before it completed its strategic defense review.
The review, led by former Labour Minister and Nato Head George Robertson, examines the current state of the UK’s armed forces and the threats it faces. It also examines the capabilities required to deal with these threats. The review is expected to be completed by spring.
Jones warned that increased defence spending would require “trade-offs” with other public spending areas.
Whitehall source tells BBC that the government will reach the 2.5% target “whenever, not if”. They also said that Donald Trump’s election as the next US President had “focused minds” to the need for increased military spending.
Trump has repeatedly urged European nations to increase their defence spending, and said that he would allow aggressors like Russia to do “whatever it wants” to anyone who doesn’t.
Dame Priti patel, who was appointed Conservative shadow foreign secretary this week, said that the government should aim to reach the 2.5% target for 2030.
When asked if her party was willing to accept cuts elsewhere to reach 2.5%, Dame Priti said that “efficiencies” could be made and also changes in the “performance of civil service”.
She said that the government could have done more to set the path for 2,5% of GDP being spent on defence in the budget.
She said that the increase in security was “essential”, adding: “We live in very insecure geopolitical times, and we need to step up.”
Sir Tony said that it was “crucial”, for the government, to “balance the ambitiousness of the nation and prime minister against the resources needed to match this ambition”.
He also said that the Army needs “longer-term stabilization” and “clarity” about spending.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has intensified calls to increase the UK’s defense budget.
Sir Tony, in assessing the conflict, said that Russia had suffered the worst month of casualties since the beginning of the war 2022.
He said that the Russian forces suffered “every day” an average of 1,500 deaths and injuries.
Russia does not reveal the number of war dead. However, Western defence officials claim that the death toll in October was the highest so far.
Sir Tony said that the Russian people paid an “extraordinary” price for Putin’s invasion.
“Russia will soon suffer 700,000 deaths or injuries – the immense pain and suffering the Russian nation has to endure because of Putin’s ambitious plans,” said Sir Tony.
He said that the losses “were for tiny increments of Land”.
“There is no doubt about it, Russia is making territorial and tactical gains that are putting pressure on Ukraine,” said he.
He added that Russia spends more than 40% of public expenditures on defence and security. This, he said, is “an enormous drain” for the country.
Sir Tony said that while allies of Donald Trump, the US president-elect, insist that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may have ceded territory to end the conflict, the Western allies will be resolute “for as long as it takes”.
“That is the message that President Putin must absorb and the reassurance to President Zelensky,” said he on the program.
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