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Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
UK's Dramatic Defense Overhaul Undershoots Trump's Target
Depending on who you ask, the U.K.'s long-awaited defense review is revolutionary or lackluster, but it still doesn't seem to meet the ambitious targets pushed on the U.S' allies by President Donald Trump. For most, though, it's progress. It's "going in the right direction," said Jim Townsend, former Pentagon deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy. The U.K.'s Labour government announced what it termed a "root and branch" review into the country's armed forces in July 2024. The British military was "hollowed out," Defense Secretary John Healey said at the time, and contending with "neglected morale." The Strategic Defence Review, or SDR, says the U.K.—one of the U.S.' most important NATO allies—needs to double down on a "NATO-first" strategy and make its armed forces more prepared to fight a war. The Westminster government has accepted all 62 of the recommendations in the more than 140 page-long review, committing to building 12 new nuclear-powered submarines, multiple new factories to pump out munitions and moving toward artificial intelligence and autonomous systems such as drones. The submarines will be part of the trilateral AUKUS deal between the U.S, U.K. and Australia, announced in 2021 to furnish Australia with new attack subs. This is likely to please a Trump administration publicly pivoting to the Indo-Pacific, Townsend told Newsweek. President Donald Trump and his inner circle have been clear: European members of the alliance have to do more, pulling up the defense spending that tailed off at the end of the Cold War and freeing up American kit and personnel to shift to the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. is the most important member of the trans-Atlantic alliance, providing many of the most expensive capabilities Europe uses, stationing tens of thousands of troops on the continent, and providing the all-important nuclear deterrent. The U.S. arsenal is the second-largest in the world after Russia's. Together, Moscow and Washington account for roughly 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons. The U.K. and France also have nuclear stockpiles, but in far smaller numbers. The Trump administration has loudly demanded European NATO members dedicate 5 percent of GDP to defense. Officials have often shaken this number off as arbitrary, but agree military spending needs to surge from the 2 percent benchmark of the last decade, and quickly. Some countries have stormed ahead, particularly those along the alliance's eastern flank within sight of Russia, while nations further away from Russian soil have generally been more sluggish. NATO chief, Mark Rutte, has proposed to the alliance's members that defense spending should reach 3.5 percent, while another 1.5 percent of GDP would go toward defense-related spending, Reuters reported last month. The SDR did not come with a new commitment for U.K. military spending. London has pledged to spend 2.5 percent of GDP on defense by 2027, and said it hopes to raise this to 3 percent in the following Parliament. "This review seems to be saying a lot of the right things, but the money needs to be there, too," Townsend said. But in the face of Russia, changing pledges in NATO and Trump's overt frustration, "it will be hard for the U.K. to get away with making promises and not funding it." Others are more skeptical. James Cartlidge, the shadow defense secretary for the Conservative Party in opposition, called the plans "underfunded and totally underwhelming." The bulk of the big-ticket items like the submarines "are all presently unfunded," added John Foreman, a former U.K. defense attache to both Moscow and Kyiv. "Ultimately the SDR says the right things, but isn't executable," he told Newsweek. The U.S. was heavily involved in the formulation of the report, officials say. One insider said the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, and his team had privately expressed satisfaction with the U.K.'s defense trajectory since Trump's inauguration in January. This is a sharp contrast to the public rhetoric of Trump's inner circle. Vice President JD Vance launched a blistering attack on Europe from the stage of the Munich Security Conference in February, just weeks after the new administration took office. One British official said the review had pivoted at certain points in reaction to the U.S. government, including in February. In private conversations-turned-public, during an exchange on a Signal chat of senior national security officials—which mistakenly included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine in March—an account believed to belong to Vance bemoaned "bailing Europe out" while Hegseth lambasted "European freeloading." The next weeks will be a revealing litmus test for current U.S. attitudes toward its European friends. NATO's defense ministers are gathering in Brussels on Thursday, ahead of the major summit planned for later this month in The Hague. U.S. officials will place far higher value on actions, rather than words, insiders say. "The gap between the rhetoric and the reality will be exposed at the forthcoming NATO summit," Foreman said. "The U.K. risks falling behind some key European allies and is clearly not matching Trump's ambition for Europe to step up for its own conventional defense," he said. Some say it's not yet clear what the summit will achieve; others argue the decisions have likely already been made. The SDR described Russia as an "immediate and pressing threat," but did not detail assessments of when Moscow could be potentially ready to launch some form of armed attack against a NATO state. The report also described China as a "sophisticated and persistent challenge," while labeling Iran and North Korea "regional disrupters." Germany's defense chief, General Carsten Breuer, told the BBC over the weekend that NATO should ready itself for a possible Russian attack within the next four years. The "threat is real" to NATO, the chief of the British Army, General Sir Roly Walker, said in late May. "The biggest challenge we face, of many, is simply a lack of time," he added. The "lack of pace" is a weakness of the SDR, Foreman said. The British Army—at its smallest size for several hundred years—should become ten times more "lethal," the report said, although this refers not to a huge increase in personnel, but to its effectiveness. The SDR also recommended a new "hybrid Navy" which includes uncrewed systems, and committing more than $20 billion to new nuclear warheads. The U.K. will build up to 7,000 new long-range weapons, according to the report, while plugging more than $1.3 billion into homeland air and missile defense and continuing with the British, Italian and Japanese sixth-generation fighter jet program. The U.K. will also establish a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command to fend off "daily attacks in the gray zone." Related Articles Kai Trump Makes Strong Statement amid Massive Golf ImprovementCould Clarence Thomas Delay Retirement Over Trump Picks? 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Newsweek
2 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
UK's Dramatic Defense Overhaul Undershoots Trump's Target
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Depending on who you ask, the U.K.'s long-awaited defense review is revolutionary or lackluster, but it still doesn't seem to meet the ambitious targets pushed on the U.S' allies by President Donald Trump. For most, though, it's progress. It's "going in the right direction," said Jim Townsend, former Pentagon deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy. The U.K.'s Labour government announced what it termed a "root and branch" review into the country's armed forces in July 2024. The British military was "hollowed out," Defense Secretary John Healey said at the time, and contending with "neglected morale." The Strategic Defence Review, or SDR, says the U.K.—one of the U.S.' most important NATO allies—needs to double down on a "NATO-first" strategy and make its armed forces more prepared to fight a war. President Donald Trump meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, at the White House, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Washington. President Donald Trump meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, at the White House, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Washington. Carl Court/Pool via AP The Westminster government has accepted all 62 of the recommendations in the more than 140 page-long review, committing to building 12 new nuclear-powered submarines, multiple new factories to pump out munitions and moving toward artificial intelligence and autonomous systems such as drones. The submarines will be part of the trilateral AUKUS deal between the U.S, U.K. and Australia, announced in 2021 to furnish Australia with new attack subs. This is likely to please a Trump administration publicly pivoting to the Indo-Pacific, Townsend told Newsweek. Trump's Target For NATO President Donald Trump and his inner circle have been clear: European members of the alliance have to do more, pulling up the defense spending that tailed off at the end of the Cold War and freeing up American kit and personnel to shift to the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. is the most important member of the trans-Atlantic alliance, providing many of the most expensive capabilities Europe uses, stationing tens of thousands of troops on the continent, and providing the all-important nuclear deterrent. The U.S. arsenal is the second-largest in the world after Russia's. Together, Moscow and Washington account for roughly 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons. The U.K. and France also have nuclear stockpiles, but in far smaller numbers. The Trump administration has loudly demanded European NATO members dedicate 5 percent of GDP to defense. Officials have often shaken this number off as arbitrary, but agree military spending needs to surge from the 2 percent benchmark of the last decade, and quickly. Some countries have stormed ahead, particularly those along the alliance's eastern flank within sight of Russia, while nations further away from Russian soil have generally been more sluggish. Where's The Money? NATO chief, Mark Rutte, has proposed to the alliance's members that defense spending should reach 3.5 percent, while another 1.5 percent of GDP would go toward defense-related spending, Reuters reported last month. The SDR did not come with a new commitment for U.K. military spending. London has pledged to spend 2.5 percent of GDP on defense by 2027, and said it hopes to raise this to 3 percent in the following Parliament. "This review seems to be saying a lot of the right things, but the money needs to be there, too," Townsend said. But in the face of Russia, changing pledges in NATO and Trump's overt frustration, "it will be hard for the U.K. to get away with making promises and not funding it." Others are more skeptical. James Cartlidge, the shadow defense secretary for the Conservative Party in opposition, called the plans "underfunded and totally underwhelming." The bulk of the big-ticket items like the submarines "are all presently unfunded," added John Foreman, a former U.K. defense attache to both Moscow and Kyiv. "Ultimately the SDR says the right things, but isn't executable," he told Newsweek. Hegseth Calls the tune The U.S. was heavily involved in the formulation of the report, officials say. One insider said the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, and his team had privately expressed satisfaction with the U.K.'s defense trajectory since Trump's inauguration in January. This is a sharp contrast to the public rhetoric of Trump's inner circle. Vice President JD Vance launched a blistering attack on Europe from the stage of the Munich Security Conference in February, just weeks after the new administration took office. One British official said the review had pivoted at certain points in reaction to the U.S. government, including in February. In private conversations-turned-public, during an exchange on a Signal chat of senior national security officials—which mistakenly included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine in March—an account believed to belong to Vance bemoaned "bailing Europe out" while Hegseth lambasted "European freeloading." Actions Will Speak Louder Than Words The next weeks will be a revealing litmus test for current U.S. attitudes toward its European friends. NATO's defense ministers are gathering in Brussels on Thursday, ahead of the major summit planned for later this month in The Hague. U.S. officials will place far higher value on actions, rather than words, insiders say. "The gap between the rhetoric and the reality will be exposed at the forthcoming NATO summit," Foreman said. "The U.K. risks falling behind some key European allies and is clearly not matching Trump's ambition for Europe to step up for its own conventional defense," he said. Some say it's not yet clear what the summit will achieve; others argue the decisions have likely already been made. Time Is Of The Essence The SDR described Russia as an "immediate and pressing threat," but did not detail assessments of when Moscow could be potentially ready to launch some form of armed attack against a NATO state. The report also described China as a "sophisticated and persistent challenge," while labeling Iran and North Korea "regional disrupters." Germany's defense chief, General Carsten Breuer, told the BBC over the weekend that NATO should ready itself for a possible Russian attack within the next four years. The "threat is real" to NATO, the chief of the British Army, General Sir Roly Walker, said in late May. "The biggest challenge we face, of many, is simply a lack of time," he added. The "lack of pace" is a weakness of the SDR, Foreman said. The British Army—at its smallest size for several hundred years—should become ten times more "lethal," the report said, although this refers not to a huge increase in personnel, but to its effectiveness. The SDR also recommended a new "hybrid Navy" which includes uncrewed systems, and committing more than $20 billion to new nuclear warheads. The U.K. will build up to 7,000 new long-range weapons, according to the report, while plugging more than $1.3 billion into homeland air and missile defense and continuing with the British, Italian and Japanese sixth-generation fighter jet program. The U.K. will also establish a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command to fend off "daily attacks in the gray zone."
See - Sada Elbalad
3 days ago
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
UK Unveils £15 Bln Investment in Nuclear Warhead Program
Israa Farhan British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a landmark £15 billion investment in the production of sovereign nuclear warheads as part of a comprehensive strategy to modernize the UK's military and enhance national security. The plan also includes a major expansion of the country's nuclear deterrent and increased readiness for potential global conflicts. The announcement came as part of a broader defense review aimed at addressing rising global instability and mounting security threats. Starmer declared that the UK must enter a state of *combat readiness* to effectively deter future aggressors and protect its national interests. Starmer outlined three strategic priorities for the UK's updated defense posture: 1. Enhanced War Readiness The Prime Minister stated that boosting the UK's war readiness is the most effective way to deter potential aggressors. Measures include increased pay for military personnel and the development of a fully trained and more robust reserve force. 2. Strengthening NATO's Capabilities Reaffirming a NATO-first defense policy, Starmer pledged that the UK will provide its most significant contribution to the alliance since its inception. He emphasized that the UK's commitment to NATO remains unwavering and central to its defense strategy. 3. Accelerating Defense Innovation Starmer stressed the need for the UK to become the fastest innovator within the NATO alliance. The government aims to adopt a wartime pace for defense technology development, ensuring rapid adaptation to evolving threats. As part of the defense plan, the government has pledged to: Build at least six new munitions factories across the UK. Establish a hybrid Royal Navy that combines drones, warships, submarines, and advanced aircraft. Deliver up to 12 nuclear-powered attack submarines under the AUKUS security partnership with the United States and Australia. Improve housing and military equipment for armed forces personnel. Invest £15 billion in a Sovereign Warhead Program to reinforce the UK's nuclear capabilities. Under the trilateral AUKUS agreement, the UK will enhance submarine capabilities and share defense technologies with the US and Australia. The partnership plays a pivotal role in countering threats in the Indo-Pacific region and solidifying the UK's position in global security frameworks. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UK moving to ‘war-fighting readiness' to counter global threats
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled a sweeping new defense spending plan he said would move the UK to 'war-fighting readiness,' in a bid to counter a climate of heightened global threats, including the years-long war in Ukraine. Starmer pledged to boost defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2034, build new submarines and munitions factories to revive the UK's hollowed-out armed forces, and adopt a 'NATO-first' approach, saying that the country would 'innovate and accelerate innovation at a wartime pace.' The Trump administration has consistently attacked what it says is weak defense spending by Europe, demanding that NATO members spend at least 5% of their GDP on security. The UK's announcement came as Ukraine and Russia launched a series of major attacks over the weekend as peace talks look tenuous.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
PM Starmer: warns UK must prepare for war to prevent it
In a significant strategic shift, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom's military is entering a phase of 'war-fighting readiness,' unveiling a long-term defence posture that prioritises deterrence amid global instability and rising threats from Russia. Speaking in Glasgow, Starmer revealed that the UK would "innovate and accelerate at a war-time pace," pointing to Russia's aggression and global tensions as reasons to invest heavily in military capabilities. 'We cannot ignore the threat Russia poses,' he said. 'To deter war, we must be prepared for it.' National security and economic security go hand in hand. In a more dangerous world, with rising cost of living, we'll bolster British defence. We will build new weapons factories, creating skilled jobs and supporting working people across the — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 1, 2025 Central to the strategy is a pledge to boost defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2034, though the Prime Minister refused to commit to an earlier deadline. 'I don't believe in performative fantasy politics,' Starmer told reporters, in a veiled criticism of calls to expedite defence funding amid increasing NATO pressure. The newly conducted strategic review, led by former NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson, has focused on the UK's readiness to respond to escalating global tensions. It includes plans for new submarines, expanded munitions manufacturing, and reaffirmed NATO-first commitments. The full review will be made public later, with Defence Secretary John Healey expected to present further details. Opposition voices have emerged swiftly. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has challenged the adequacy of Starmer's budget timeline, while the Liberal Democrats argue the UK must move faster and spend more immediately. Yet Starmer remains focused on stability, signalling a pragmatic approach in balancing fiscal caution and military urgency.
