Two serving ministers with strong expertise in defence and security have sounded the alarm about the growing concerns among conservative MP's and military insiders as the Chancellor failed to announce new funds for the military sector in his spring budget.
Ministers Urge UK Government to Rise Defence Spendings
In a very uncommon intervention, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, a foreign office minister joined former defence minister, Tom Tugendhat, along with an experienced soldier to publish an online article regarding the urgency to increase defence spendings.
The publication included: "It's clear to us that the UK needs to lead the way in increasing our own domestic defence and security spending commitments to 2.5% and beyond," they wrote in a piece posted on Ms Trevelyan's LinkedIn page on Friday evening.
"Former defence secretary Ben Wallace and prime minister Boris Johnson made inroads into growing our defence budgets, which had been shrinking in real terms for years. But that only filled the hole. Now we need growth."
The two serving ministers' urgent call comes as a result of growing concerns between Conservative members of the Parliament and military personnel at Jeremy Hunt's negligence to address the need for new funding for the military forces in his spring spending plan, despite the defence secrecy warnings about the UK's being in a pre-war world.
Chancellor Hunt, on the other hand, restated an unclear pledge to increase defense spending to two and a half percent of national income, from just over the current 2%, stating it would occur 'as soon as economic conditions allow.'
To emphasize the seriousness of their concerns, Ms Trevelyan and Mr Tugendhat strongly advised the government to reinforce the country's nuclear deterrent, strengthen the Royal Navy, invest in additional ammunition and weaponry and to further hasten plans of supplying the air force with a more advanced generation of fighter jets.
They also underscored the importance of investing in the United Kingdom's industrial base for defence, "None of this is wasted cash. It's investment in our own economy. And it protects our future economic security," the ministers remarked.
"The sad truth is that the world is no longer benign. Protecting ourselves requires investment. And effective investment means that our industrial complex must grow and strengthen at a much greater pace than at present.
"We cannot turn on the complex platforms and weapons which ensure military advantage overnight. We must start that growth now, invest at pace to support our allies and stay ahead of our adversaries."
Ukraine Crisis Spurs Economic and Security Turmoil, Urging the UK to Strengthen Its Armed Forces
The ongoing Ukrainian conflict has swiftly translated into economic challenges for the UK, resulting in high energy and food prices. In addition, the crisis poses a direct menace to the British security, therefore, the need to prioritize national safety has become urgent.
Every political party's policy statement must focus on this matter, candidates need to be challenged to pledge a minimum of 2.5% annual defence spending throughout the next Parliament, escalating to 3% by its conclusion.
In the middle of global uncertainties, a robust defence has become a fundamental requirement for the nation's overall well-being. Strengthening the armed forces, including the expansion of the naval capabilities and the enhancement of the air defence, is not a choice against social welfare, the NHS, or international aid, it is rather a perquisite for safeguarding these very priorities.