Keir Starmer warned military needs another £28bn | UK | News
Sir Keir Starmer has been warned military There is a £28bn shortfall in defense spending. An assessment by the Ministry of Defense in 2025 reportedly revealed a gap of billions of pounds by 2030.
Chief of the General Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, is said to have given the Prime Minister the bad news at the No 10 meeting before Christmas. Defense Secretary John Healey and Chancellor Rachel Reeves were also at the meeting, according to The Times.
The Prime Minister was reportedly very unhappy when informed of the financial bombshell, apparently believing the financial situation was already in place.
Sir Keir ordered officials to rethink plans drawn up to show how the army’s objectives detailed in the Government’s Strategic Defense Review (SDR) would be achieved.
Inflation was responsible for the huge fiscal deficit. increase in staff salaries and the cost of Britain’s nuclear deterrent. The biggest impact of the shortage is said to be on the British Army.
A military source told Times He added that officials will have to find some “important” items to cut and ministers will have to make major decisions on important issues.
under pressure from Donald TrumpSir Keir has pledged to increase core defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. The source claimed that this increase would still result in a deficit of £28 billion.
Reports of shortages come as tensions continue to rise in Europe amid Russia’s war in Ukraine; US President Donald Trump’s designs for Greenland and the possible effects of the US overthrowing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Relations between Britain and Russia continued to deteriorate this week, with Britain continuing to deteriorate. Joined US mission to capture a Russian-flagged “shadow tanker” in the Atlantic.
London argued that the interception of the ship by US special forces backed by British naval and air support and the US commitment to security guarantees to Ukraine justified Sir Keir’s efforts to prevent Mr Trump from abandoning America’s allies in Europe.
Others say it is wishful thinking as the United States renews its capture of Mr. Maduro and Mr. Trump. Desire to conquer Greenland It puts Sir Keir’s bridge-building efforts under potentially unbearable tension.
Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron Announced plans to deploy French and British this week Troops on the field in Ukraine subject to ceasefire reached.
The Kremlin said that any soldiers sent to the region Ukrainian would be legitimate targets. Sir Keir told MPs on Wednesday that the decision on whether to send troops to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal would be put to a vote.
In an emergency statement the same day, Mr Healey pledged to “make 2026 not only the year when peace is possible, but the year when peace is achieved”.
Questions remain about how the UK will fund this peace, given the reportedly bleak finances and mood of the Ministry of Defence.
A Ministry of Defense spokesman said: “The UK’s defense budget is soaring to record levels as this government delivers the biggest increase in defense spending since the Cold War, totaling £270bn in this parliament alone.
“Demands on defense are increasing as Russia’s aggression increases, operational requirements increase, and preparations for Ukrainian deployment increase.”
