LONDON — The United Kingdom is set to embark on a significant military overhaul, including the construction of nuclear-powered attack submarines and a commitment to prepare its army for potential conflicts in Europe, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday. This initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at increasing military spending, targeting both Russia and the United States with a clear message of readiness and fortitude.
Starmer emphasized that Britain must confront the escalating threat posed by Russia, pledging to enact the most comprehensive defense changes seen since the fall of the Soviet Union over 30 years ago.
“The threat we face is more serious, more immediate and more unpredictable than at any time since the Cold War,” he declared during a visit to a navy shipyard in Scotland, highlighting the pervasive security challenges currently weighing on the nation.
In light of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the UK, like many NATO members, has been reevaluating its defense strategy and spending.
This latest military strategy stems from a strategic defense review led by George Robertson, a former U.K. defense secretary and NATO secretary general, commissioned by Starmer’s government.
This marks the first such review since 2021, underscoring shifting global dynamics exacerbated by Russia’s actions and the reelection of President Donald Trump last year.
Notably, only months after the last major defense review, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson confidently proclaimed an end to large-scale tank battles on European soil—only for Russian tanks to subsequently invade Ukraine.
Starmer’s Labour Party government has committed to implementing all 62 recommendations from this defense review, which aims to bolster the UK’s capacity to address mounting threats across multiple domains, including land, air, sea, and cyberspace.
Key defense measures outlined in the review include a ramp-up in the production of submarines and munitions, learning from Ukraine’s rapid advancements in drone technology to effectively counteract adversarial forces.
The government plans to bolster innovation and establish a cyber command to fend off the daily barrage of Russia-linked attacks targeting Britain’s defenses.
Other significant initiatives include:
– The construction of “up to 12” nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines as part of the AUKUS partnership with Australia and the U.S.
– An investment of 15 billion pounds ($20.3 billion) into Britain’s nuclear arsenal, which is currently limited to missiles operated by a small number of submarines.
– Enhancing Britain’s conventional weapons stockpile with the establishment of six new munitions factories and the production of up to 7,000 long-range weapons built in the UK.
– The development of new airborne and terrestrial drones, as well as a
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