UK seeks to send a message to Moscow as it outlines higher defence spending

By Euronews with AP

Published on 02/06/2025 - 1:58 GMT+2

The UK is astir to spot nan biggest summation successful defence spending since nan extremity of nan Cold War arsenic it seeks to nonstop “a connection to Moscow,” nan British defence caput John Healey said connected Sunday. 

Healey said plans for defence spending will beryllium capable to toggle shape nan country’s military, though he said he does not expect nan number of soldiers – presently astatine a historical debased – to emergence until nan early 2030s. 

The British authorities intends for defence spending to deed 2.5% of nan country’s nationalist income by 2027 – pinch Healey saying plans are still connected way to scope this target.  

There is “no doubt” this fig will deed 3% by nan 2030s, Healey believes. 

Westminster will connected Monday respond to a strategical defence reappraisal overseen by Healey and erstwhile NATO caput wide George Robertson. 

This reappraisal is expected to beryllium nan astir consequential since nan autumn of nan Soviet Union successful 1991 and make a bid of recommendations advising nan UK connected really it tin woody pinch emerging threats some connected nan subject beforehand and successful nan cyberspace. 

It will reportedly perpetrate £1.5 cardinal (€1.78 billion) to build six caller factories to make munitions to revive nan UK’s business base. 

Russia’s ongoing full-scale penetration of Ukraine highlighted deficiencies successful nan West’s expertise to procure weapons – pinch UK subject officers informing astir nan nation’s debased magnitude of munitions.