UK’s defence overhaul puts focus on a ‘more lethal’ Nato, highlights China, Russia threats, scmp.com

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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government outlined a new defence strategy on Monday that aims to put a “stronger, more lethal” Nato at the forefront of British defence plans as the country boosts its nuclear deterrent, rebuilds munitions and weapons stockpiles and invests billions of pounds into technologically advanced warfare methods.

The new defence strategy warns that the threats the UK faces “are more serious and less predictable than at any time since the Cold War”. Here’s how the UK plans to shift from a long period of underinvestment and a peacetime mentality to become ready for war, as detailed in Monday’s 140-page document.
The report recommends that Britain should begin discussions with the US and Nato on the “potential benefits and feasibility of enhanced UK participation in Nato’s nuclear mission”. The government wants to achieve this by renewing its existing nuclear deterrent, investing £15 billion (US$20 billion) in its warhead programme, and exploring other means of deterring enemy use of nuclear weapons – which could include buying fighter jets capable of firing nuclear bombs. […]

The review recommended that the army should have as a minimum 73,000 regular soldiers, rising to 100,000 including reservists. When funding allows, it said there should be a “small uplift” in the size of the regular army – already at its smallest size since the Napoleonic era – as well as a 20 per cent boost to active reserves.

Defence Secretary John Healey told the House of Commons on Monday that he aimed to increase the army to 76,000 in the next the next parliament, which is set to end in 2034. That is nevertheless likely to attract criticism that it is not happening soon enough. Läs artikel

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