PNN – Providing for the shortfall of the British defense budget has become more complicated in a situation where internal disputes over the increase in defense spending have coincided with external concerns about the developments in the Ukraine war and the change in the US approach to NATO, and this situation has put the British government in a difficult position to balance between security needs and financial constraints.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, discussions between the Prime Minister’s Office and the British Ministry of Finance have intensified regarding the amount and time of increasing the country’s defense budget. The UK currently spends around 2.3% of its GDP, equivalent to £56.9 billion, on defence. This amount is less than the 2.5 percent that the ruling Labor Party promised, but no detailed plan for its implementation has yet been presented.
British military commanders also want to increase this figure to 2.65%, but US President Donald Trump has demanded that European countries increase their share of defense spending to 5% of GDP.
Continuation of support for Ukraine in uncertainty
One of London’s main concerns is to continue supporting Ukraine, which is about to enter the third year of war with Russia. So far, the British government has provided 7.8 billion pounds of military aid to Kyiv, and experts believe that this support should continue.
In this context, Dr. Jack Watling, an analyst at the Russian Institute (RUSI), said: Continuing support for Ukraine to achieve lasting peace should be NATO’s priority. Only in this way can the threat of Russia be reduced.
This support includes the provision of long-range missiles to attack Russian bases, artillery shells and the development of the production of advanced drones. According to this British analyst, the cost of replacing equipment sent to Ukraine has now doubled and reached 2 billion pounds annually.
Manpower crisis and military preparedness
Another serious problem of the British army is the lack of manpower. According to the British Ministry of Defence, the country’s armed forces lose 300 more soldiers per month than they can recruit.
Richard Donat, the former head of the British army, has warned that this shortage of troops could overshadow British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plan to send peacekeepers to Ukraine. He estimated that about 100,000 soldiers would be needed for such a mission, and that Britain would have to provide a significant portion of these forces.
Another challenge is the inability of the UK’s defense infrastructure to deal with new threats, including drone and missile attacks. The report of the Defense Committee of the British Parliament shows that the ammunition reserves of this country’s army will be enough for only a few days in the event of a war. Also, British air defense systems are unable to deal with attacks similar to what Ukraine is experiencing.
Investment in defense equipment
The British government is planning to buy a defense system similar to the Iron Dome of the Zionist regime. Germany has already ordered the Arrow 3 system at a cost of 3 billion pounds. Also, the British Ministry of Defense is considering the purchase of new drones to protect the country’s maritime infrastructure against possible threats from Russia.
However, military and economic experts warn that the realization of these plans faces serious challenges. In recent years, the British economy has faced stagnation and an increase in public debt, and the government is facing budget constraints to finance military expenses.
International concerns and American pressure
Discussions about the lack of British defense budget have made news while the new American government’s actions regarding the future of the war in Ukraine have worried European officials. According to the announced plan, representatives of the United States and Russia are going to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine in Riyadh.
On the other hand, the leaders of the European countries have gathered in Paris to develop a common strategy to avoid being ignored in the process of Ukraine talks. Stating that Ukraine is the front line of European security, the British Prime Minister announced his country’s readiness to send peacekeeping forces to the Kiev front; a claim that, due to the structural weakness of the British army, has been met with doubts by military experts.