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Boris Johnson has vowed to “restore Britain’s position as Europe’s leading naval power” as part of a multibillion-dollar boost to defense spending.
the Prime Minister, while preparing a new multi-year financing package to the House of Commons, he warned that “the international situation is now more dangerous and intensely competitive than at any time since the Cold War.”
Johnson has promised to invest an additional £ 16.5 billion in defense spending over the next four years.
This is in addition to the Conservatives’ manifesto commitment to increase the defense budget by at least 0.5% above inflation each year.
Boris Johnson vowed to ‘restore Britain’s position as Europe’s leading naval power’
The prime minister said that, in total, this would add up to a £ 24.1bn increase in defense spending over the next four years.
Downing Street has hailed the largest British defense investment program since the end of the Cold War, which will also see the creation of 40,000 jobs.
Johnson told MPs that the UK defense budget had been “slashed and shortened” for decades and that he had “decided that the era of cutting our defense budget must end, and it ends now.”
“Our national security 20 years from now will depend on the decisions we make today,” the prime minister told the Commons via video link, as he remains isolated in Downing Street.
“I have done this in the midst of the pandemic, in the midst of all the other demands on our resources, because the defense of the kingdom and the safety of the British people must come first.”
Perhaps with an eye toward his future relationship with US President-elect Joe Biden, the Prime Minister praised how the UK would now be investing more than any other European country in defense projects and more than any other NATO ally. apart from the United States.
Describing how the new money will be spent, the prime minister said the money would help “stimulate a revival of British shipbuilding across the UK, in Glasgow and Rosyth, Belfast, Appledore and Birkenhead.”
The prime minister was pressured to resist cutting foreign aid to finance the new commitments.
Making his promise to “restore Britain’s position as the leading naval power in Europe,” he added: “If there was a policy that strengthens the UK in every way possible, it is to build more ships for the Royal Navy.”
He said the government will seek to “develop the next generation of warships, including multi-role research ships and Type 32 frigates.”
Johnson also outlined plans to focus the expanded defense budget on “technologies that will revolutionize warfare,” such as “directed energy weapons” employing “inexhaustible lasers.”
He told MPs about a £ 1.5 billion investment in military research and development, a new center dedicated to artificial intelligence and a new RAF space command that will launch British satellites and “our first rocket from Scotland in 2022.”
The prime minister also confirmed the establishment of a National Cyber Force, which already operates through computer networks against terrorism, organized crime and hostile states.
Sir Keir Starmer asked where the extra money would come from
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer claimed that the government had made the spending announcement, which comes ahead of the release of a review of the UK’s foreign, defense, development and security policy early next year, without a “clear strategy or coherent vision for Britain in the world”.
“I know that the prime minister is always willing to talk about the parts of government that he enjoys: big ads, space shows, shooting at the moon,” he said.
“But this statement shows that the government still lacks a clear strategy or coherent vision for Britain in the world, or any idea of how the promises the prime minister makes will be fulfilled.”
Sir Keir also questioned how the increase in defense spending will be paid for, asking whether it would be financed with additional loans, tax increases or pressure on other government departments.
The prime minister was pressured by former Conservative ministers Andrew Mitchell and Jeremy Hunt to resist cutting UK foreign aid spending to help pay for new defense commitments.
It has been reported that the government could temporarily cut the UK’s foreign aid spending target from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income, following the huge outlay to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
Johnson said the UK could be proud of its foreign aid record and “will continue to lead the world.”
“This statement is about our defense and security, and no other topic can be read,” he added.
