In a recent address, Rishi Sunak outlined plans for substantial increases in defence spending in the coming years, citing the current global landscape as the most perilous

since the Cold War era.

The Prime Minister affirmed that UK military expenditure would escalate to 2.5% of the national income by 2030, solidifying a previous commitment to bolster defence funding. Previously, ministers had only committed to meeting this target when economic conditions permitted.

This renewed commitment comes in response to mounting pressure from within the Conservative party and government ranks.

According to Downing Street, this pledge entails an additional £75 billion for the military over the next six years, with £10 billion earmarked for munitions production.

Before Sunak's announcement, the Labour party had indicated its intent to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP "as soon as resources allow" in the event of winning the upcoming general election.

During a diplomatic visit to Poland, Sunak emphasized the increasingly precarious international scenario, asserting that the UK must bolster its defence capabilities to counter the assertiveness displayed by authoritarian regimes like Russia and China. Despite the heightened investment, Sunak stressed that the UK is not on the brink of war.

He further underscored that this spending surge aims to put the UK's defence industry on a heightened state of readiness, positioning it to address evolving global security challenges.

Sunak envisages a gradual annual increase in defence spending until 2030, suggesting that achieving the 2.5% target could establish a new standard within the NATO alliance.

Regarding Ukraine, Sunak confirmed the UK's additional £500 million commitment this year, supplementing the £2.5 billion already allocated. He assured continued military support for Ukraine at current levels for as long as necessary.

This announcement follows mounting pressure from within the Conservative party, particularly after the March Budget. Notably, Ministers Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Tom Tugendhat had publicly advocated for increased defence spending.

While Downing Street asserts that the 2.5% commitment is fully funded, skepticism persists among experts regarding the feasibility of long-term targets. Paul Johnson from the Institute for Fiscal Studies emphasized the necessity of a clear funding strategy to accompany such pledges.

Concerns over the Ministry of Defence's financial sustainability have been raised previously, with both the Public Accounts Committee and the National Audit Office highlighting fiscal challenges despite significant injections of funds.

Sunak, when pressed by reporters, declined to rule out the possibility of a general election in July, reiterating that any decision would occur in the latter half of the year. photo by Prime Minister’s Office, Wikimedia commons.