At the NATO leaders’ summit, which is starting today in Madrid, the prime minister will call on NATO partners to increase their investments in defense modernization and deterrence in Europe, warning that the coming decade is likely to be more hazardous and competitive than the previous (Wednesday).
The new NATO Strategic Concept, which will be adopted during the Summit, has been significantly shaped by the UK. The strategy outlines how NATO should address these concerns and maintain public safety while highlighting the changing and expanding dangers that the Alliance faces.
This builds on the findings of the UK’s Integrated Review, which was released last year and emphasized the need to invest in new technologies, modernize our armed forces, and develop NATO and UK defense and security capabilities across land, sea, air, and cyberspace.
The Prime Minister announced the largest increase in UK defense spending since the Cold War as a result of that assessment, an investment that has sparked a comprehensive transformation program for our military to tackle new challenges.
The Prime Minister will argue at the Madrid Summit that NATO allies must commit the funds necessary to implement the new Strategic Concept since the security environment has become more perilous as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In order to defend our citizens and promote peace and prosperity, the UK and other NATO countries have pledged to spend 2% of GDP on defense since 2006.
Since NATO’s founding, the UK has consistently met the 2 percent threshold and continues to be Europe’s top spender on defense.
Allies decided to work toward the 2 percent goal by 2024 during the NATO summit in Wales in 2014. The PM has commended numerous allies for stepping up and increasing their obligations, including support for Ukraine.
However, as NATO starts working on establishing new targets for the future, the PM has cautioned that there is still work to be done in the decade to come.
The peace in Europe has been shattered by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has irreversibly changed the geopolitical boundaries of our continent.
To address evolving and heightened challenges to our common security, the UK and NATO must both adapt.
This entails making sure there are long-term investments made while also being prepared to increase defense spending to respond to emergencies and pressing requirements.
In addition to long-term investment, the UK has so far given Ukraine £1.3 billion in extraordinary military support for its self-defense since the start of the conflict. We have also sent more troops to NATO’s eastern flank and increased our contributions to the alliance’s air policing and standing naval groups.
The UK will expand its national headquarters in Estonia to ensure that we can send out high-readiness forces quickly if necessary, and the Prime Minister will also announce a number of new UK commitments to strengthen the Alliance at today’s NATO summit.
We will also further increase the lethality of our forces already stationed in Estonia by deploying tools like artillery, air defense, and helicopters.
The PM will also pledge to use the UK’s superior land, air, and sea capabilities—including nearly all of our maritime assets, more fighter and bomber air squadrons, and an increase in the number of Land Brigade-sized units—to strengthen NATO’s New Force Model.
Knowing that the UK has the support of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, he will be better able to prepare for any situation.
The UK is expected to spend roughly 2.3 percent of GDP on defense this year, making it the top European spender on defense once again because to these investments and the unparalleled outpouring of support for Ukraine.
Along with keeping citizens safe, the UK’s defense spending supports 390,000 jobs here by investing roughly £20 billion annually in domestic companies. Our defense spending generates 1 in every 130 jobs in the United Kingdom. Most of them have high salaries and require talent; the average annual wage is £45,000.
This comprises:
The Dreadnought submarine development generated 29,800 jobs nationwide, including 13,500 in the Northwest of England.
Supported by our shipbuilding industry are 24,000 employment.
A £30 million deal to maintain our two aircraft carriers generated 300 employment in Rosyth and other locations.
A £300 million initiative to make the UK the first country in Europe to deploy a maritime ballistic missile defense detect and destroy capability resulted in the creation of more than 100 employment in Stevenage, Cowes, Bristol, and Bolton.
The UK defense export industry, which exports an average of £3.75 billion in equipment worldwide and contributes to the safety of our allies, has grown as a result of our historic heritage in the defense sector.
The Prime Minister will speak to NATO today and is anticipated to say:
Every day, the NATO Alliance keeps our citizens safe. However, the threats we face will only worsen over the next ten years.
To restore deterrence and secure defense in the upcoming ten years, we need all of our partners to work extremely hard. In this crisis, allies must continue to rise to the occasion. The 2 percent was always intended to be a floor, not a ceiling.
I continue to be immensely proud of the enormous contribution that the British military contributes to the globe. Every Government’s top priority is to defend the realm. But more than that, defense is what keeps the United Kingdom alive.
Almost every household has a member who has served in the military or who has worked in the booming defense sector. Our remarkable Red Arrows fly above moments of national celebration, and our military men and women stand guard during times of national gloom.
And once more, we must focus on defense as we consider how to create a future in which the people of the UK are secure and prosperous. Neglecting the requirements of our armed forces is neglecting our nation.
The UK is investing in long-term strategic initiatives like AUKUS and Future Combat Air System to fully handle the dangers of the future. These entail cutting-edge technologies that the UK defense sector will be entrusted with developing for years to come.
These projects will strengthen partnerships and support job growth throughout the UK.
Allies pledged to contribute 2% of GDP in defense by 2024 as part of the Wales Defence Investment Pledge at the NATO Wales Summit in 2014. Canada and its partners in Europe are anticipated to increase their defense spending by a combined $350 billion between 2014 and 2022.
By securing the Wales Pledge and increasing its defense spending by $34,741 million since 2014, the UK has taken the lead.
However, as the Government acknowledged in the Integrated Review, maintaining safety and security is becoming more expensive. The Prime Minister will urge partners to start talking about a new target for defense investment starting in 2024 during the NATO Summit today.
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a number of NATO nations have decided to increase their defense budget. Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Romania, and Poland are some of them. From the following year, Poland will dedicate 3% of its GDP on defense.