Former Armed Forces Minister James Heappey cautions that the UK’s Armed Forces will not see an increase in size despite the government’s plan to boost defense spending to 2.5% of GDP. Although Heappey initially advocated for a 3% target, he welcomes the £75 billion investment and emphasizes its importance in supporting the current forces’ capabilities and ensuring strategic resilience.
Britain has announced plans to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. The announcement comes in response to growing concerns about security threats posed by authoritarian states such as Russia and China. The move has garnered praise from former defense ministers, but some critics have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of the plan. The increase will add billions of pounds to the defense budget, bringing it to an estimated £87 billion by the end of the decade. Britain’s current defense spending stands just above 2% of GDP.
