The Prime Minister is set to announce the biggest increase in military investment since the end of the Cold War.
The £16.5bn investment is designed to allow for generational modernisation that will allow the armed forces to deal with modern threats in whichever form they take.
This increase is funding puts the UK as the biggest military spender in Europe, and the second largest in NATO, only being beaten by the United States.
Defence isn’t just about defending the UK from external threats however, it has also been at the forefront of the UK’s humanitarian responses in places such as Lebanon and Central American countries after Hurricane Eta.
Boris Johnson outlined why now is the perfect time to invest heavily in the Armed Forces.
He said:
“I have taken this decision in the teeth of the pandemic because the defence of the realm must come first.
“The international situation is more perilous and more intensely competitive than at any time since the Cold War and Britain must be true to our history and stand alongside our allies. To achieve this we need to upgrade our capabilities across the board.
“This is our chance to end the era of retreat, transform our Armed Forces, bolster our global influence, unite and level up our country, pioneer new technology and defend our people and way of life.”
The investments, which come over the course of four years are expected to generate up to 10,000 new jobs for the UK.
The Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, said:
“This is excellent news for Defence, and provides us with the financial certainty we need to modernise, plan for the future and adapt to the threats we face. It demonstrates the Prime Minister’s recognition of how important Defence is to our resilience and to the reputation of the United Kingdom.
“This settlement secures UK jobs and livelihoods, allows us to invest in our fantastic shipyards and aerospace industry, spreading prosperity to every corner of the UK.
“Next year represents a huge opportunity for this country, and Defence will be at the forefront of creating the jobs and business opportunities that will help us build back from the pandemic.
“Over the next few months I will set out in more detail our ambitious agenda for Defence.”
