Rishi Sunak has vowed to spend billions more public cash on defence, citing the growing threat of “an axis of authoritarian states”.
Speaking in Warsaw this week, the Prime Minister said the UK was contending with an “increasingly dangerous world” and the country’s defence spending would rise to 2.5% of national output (from the current 2.1%) by 2030.
It will mean that in six years, Britain will be spending £87bn-a-year – so just why is the PM increasing defence spending?
The move is aimed at countering the dangers from states like Russia, Iran and China. It will make the UK the second-largest contributor to NATO after the US.
It comes as Vladimir Putin continues Russia’s offensive on Ukraine and after the US House of Representatives approved a $61bn for Volodymyr Zelensky’s fightback, Israel and other US allies.
NATO general secretary Jens Stoltenberg, who was also speaking in Poland, said Europe was at a “turning point” and encouraged other …