- There is a “very real danger that Russia will lash out against wider Europe”, Defence Secretary warned.
- He has reportedly written to the PM asking for an increase in UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2028.
- The UK currently spends around 2% of its GDP on defence, matching Nato’s target.
Russian danger implies the UK military needs more funding. He claimed in a speech that funding needs to respond to the “direct” danger; that Russia poses to Europe. Currently, the UK spends about 2 percent of its GDP on defence; which is the same as the goal set by NATO for its members. However, Mr. Wallace is said to have contacted the PM; requesting an increase to 2.5 percent by 2028. Later, he refuted the 2.5% estimate, although he did say that investment must increase; before it “becomes too late” during a conference organised; by the Royal United Services Institute think tank (Rusi). It was “increasingly evident President Putin cannot be deterred by threat of punishment; or the expenses imposed upon his people;” he said, calling Russia the “most immediate and pressing threat to Europe.” There is a very real risk that Russia may retaliate against more of Europe; Mr. Wallace said, adding that he meant it seriously.
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On his approach to a NATO conference in Madrid; Boris Johnson declared that the defence alliance had never been more crucial; and that it was the “indispensable guarantor of European security.”
According to the PM, the UK spends 2.3 percent of its GDP on defence; ranking it third among all industrialised nations.
The largest spending review since the end of the Cold War; he continued, includes an additional £24 billion.
A decision to break a platform pledge to increase defence expenditure; by more than inflation each year in current parliament; was also defended by the prime minister, who said: “It should be looked at over the length of a parliament; not a single data point.”
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