British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday (9 July) said he would fulfil a campaign commitment to increase UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, but underlined he would only do so when the country could afford it and after a review of defence strategy.
Baltic states.
Taiwan, by extension.
Nothing has happened in the baltics, and there is no specific threat, that can be attributed directly to Russia.
As for Taiwan, they are not a member of NATO and we (Britain) have no defence treaty with them. Perhaps because we do not officially recognise them as a state, and follow the One China policy.
Even if none of that were true, I am not convinced increasing the UK defence budget helps them very much.
Are you against military spending in general or against the oppurtunity costs of military spending for something specific?
I think this guy is a revisionist Tankie. Russia and China have a history of expansionism and conduct provocative military exercises near NATO and Southeast Asian country borders.
Best to ignore them and they can sit in the mud of downvotes for others to read and realize they are full of beans.
We are talking about the British defence budget, stay on topic.
I am responding to a comment in support of the increase (in the British defence budget) , on the grounds the “the world is more hostile and we need to be prepared”
No one seems to be able to stand up that claim. You helpfully offered the Baltics and Taiwan, which we’ve addressed, and so I’m hoping that someone will show us something new, that demonstrates Britain does indeed need to be prepared to defend itself from increased hostilities.
It is quite important, because the newly elected Chancellor our the Exchequer has every day since taking office, been doing media to tell British people, “we haven’t got any money”