Drones, nuclear deterrence and “hybrid” Navy: the United Kingdom plans to increase its military budget to nearly 300 billion pounds (348 million euros) over the next four years to modernize British forces in a context of rising threats.
After several months of delay due to budgetary constraints, resigning Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled a defense investment plan on Tuesday June 30 from the site of a drone manufacturer in Berkshire (southern England). Despite his imminent departure from Downing Street, the head of the Labor government had promised to present this plan before the NATO summit in Türkiye on July 7 and 8.
“We must do what is necessary to resolutely face this new world, keep our country secure and seize the opportunities that come from investing in our sovereign power,” Keir Starmer said. “We will transform our armed forces by providing industry with the certainty needed to invest and by providing our allies with clarity on our intentions,” he insisted.
Ready for combat by 2030
Drawing lessons from the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the plan emphasizes the development of drones and autonomous systems through an investment of 5 billion pounds (5.8 billion euros) in mine clearance drones or even low-cost explosive attack drones, detailed the Ministry of Defense in a press release.
The government will also mobilize 63 billion pounds to “strengthen the British nuclear deterrent” and 11 billion to replenish stocks of munitions and weapons. Furthermore, London is committed to contributing 8 billion pounds to the future combat aircraft project (Gcap) developed in partnership with Japan and Italy.
The objective is also to transform the Royal Navy, which recently showed its limits in the Middle East, into a “hybrid” navy, combining so-called autonomous ships operating thanks to artificial intelligence with a more traditional fleet. At least six new warships will be built, keeping British shipyards busy for decades, according to the government.
Keir Starmer said he was “confident” that this plan would allow the United Kingdom to defend itself and assume its responsibilities towards NATO in the event of a Russian offensive by 2030.
Political crisis
The procrastination around this plan aggravated the political crisis that led to his downfall last week. They had previously pushed the then Minister of Defense, John Healey, to slam the door of government, followed by the Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, Al Carns. John Healey had accused the head of government and Finance Minister Rachel Reeves of not having released the necessary funds “to defend the country in this period of growing threats”.
In a desire to display government unity, the minister was present on Tuesday with Defense Minister Dan Jarvis alongside Keir Starmer. Several other military officials had also expressed their concern about the risk of a discounted plan which would not allow the United Kingdom to respect its commitments to NATO, in a context of strong American pressure.
London, like the other members of the Atlantic Alliance, has committed to increasing its military budget to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. Resigning, Keir Starmer will go to the NATO summit but will no longer be in office to implement the plan. His likely successor Andy Burnham is expected to arrive at Downing Street in mid-July.
The government indicated that the plan had been reworked since the departure of John Healey to give more space to new technologies, such as drones, and less to traditional and very expensive programs aimed at developing new cutting-edge capabilities in the distant future.
In total, an additional 15 billion pounds (17.3 billion euros) were released over four years, around 2 billion more than the amount which triggered John Healey’s departure, but far from the 28 billion requested by the general staff.
To finance them, the government will freeze “not immediately vital” projects in energy and transport, said Keir Starmer. He had already announced that he would cut back on the international aid budget to finance the increase in military spending.
