Latest news with #rearmament
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
UK preparing for war
Britain is going on a war footing with the launch of a major rearmament campaign, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a keynote address on Monday. Starmer unveiled his cabinet's Strategic Defense Review, which includes an expansive armaments program mirroring similar efforts across NATO. Last week, UK Defense Secretary John Healey said London was sending 'a message to Moscow' by allocating billions of pounds for new munitions plants, long-range missile systems, and other capabilities. Russia has accused Western nations of using alarmist rhetoric to justify shifting public funds toward military spending. 'We are moving to war-fighting readiness,' Starmer said at a shipyard in Govan, Glasgow, adding that 'our defense policy will always be NATO first.' He vowed to transform the UK into 'a battle-ready, armor-clad nation with the strongest alliances and the most advanced capabilities equipped for the decades to come.' According to Starmer, the overhaul will enable Britain to make its 'biggest contribution to NATO since its creation.' He also pledged that the country would become 'the fastest innovator in NATO,' with defense research operating at a 'wartime pace.' The reforms are expected to make the British military 'ten times more lethal by 2035,' he claimed. The prime minister reaffirmed his government's goal to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP. He framed the effort as replacing the post-Cold War 'peace dividend' with a 'defense dividend' through the creation of thousands of new jobs in weapons manufacturing, including production of nuclear arms. Starmer blamed Moscow for what he called a series of provocations, accusing Russia of 'menacing' the UK, demonstrating 'aggression' in British waters, and 'driving up the cost of living here at home,' harming British workers. Russian lawmaker Aleksey Pushkov has accused the UK of planning an 'ice war' with Russia, noting that 'there is no difference between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party' in their attitude. Commenting on Starmer's pledge to build additional nuclear submarines, Pushkov asserted that no British investments could bring the country to an equal footing with Russia, the US, and China. However, 'Starmer needs them [those boats] to report his achievements' to domestic and international players who stand to benefit financially from the project, Pushkov claimed.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
U.K. to Build Up to 12 Submarines as Part of Shift to ‘War-Fighting Readiness'
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain on Monday promised to bring his country to 'war-fighting readiness' as he announced plans to build up to 12 new attack submarines and invest billions of pounds in nuclear and other weaponry as part of new military strategy for a more dangerous world. 'If you want to deter conflict, then the best way to do that is to prepare for conflict,' Mr. Starmer said in a BBC interview on Monday morning, ahead of the release of the government's strategic defense review that will outline plans to ramp up production of drones and increase stockpiles of munitions and equipment. Britain's ambitious rearmament plan comes against the gathering clouds of Russian military aggression in Ukraine, American disengagement from Europe and rising global tensions. Mr. Starmer presented his plans hours after one of the most intense aerial bombardments of the three-year war, with Ukrainian drones striking air bases deep in Russian territory. The review, led by George Robertson, a former secretary general of NATO, was set up last year soon after Mr. Starmer won a general election. But its task was given fresh urgency amid growing evidence of President Trump's weakened commitment to European security and his ambivalent and at times ingratiating attitude toward President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. The review is scheduled for release on Monday afternoon but among the recommendations made public in advance by the government were the procurement of up to 7,000 British-built long-range weapons and the creation of a new cybercommand, alongside an investment of a billion pounds, equivalent to $1.35 billion, in digital capability. Money will be invested in protecting critical British underwater infrastructure as well as in drones which have proved highly effective in the war in Ukraine. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
EU woke green rules are blocking Europe's rearmament
By the time the environmental permits are signed off for a new TNT plant in Sweden at the end of this year, Russia will already be producing explosives at a new facility. Swedish Ballistics (SweBal) is aiming to tap into Europe's rush to rearm itself by opening what will be the EU's second factory producing military-grade TNT, used in the production of artillery shells, landmines and grenades. The firm hopes to produce 4,500 metric tonnes annually by the end of 2027, which will be enough for Europe to produce roughly 450,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition. But for now, Joakim Sjöblom, its chief executive, is busy navigating Brussels' red tape and filling in forms to secure the necessary environmental permits to build the plant. Almost every new building in the EU requires paperwork covering everything from its habitats directive to nitrogen emissions and water quality. 'It's borderline ridiculous,' Mr Sjöblom tells The Telegraph. 'I can respect it, but the processes are really adapted for an eternal peace. When the world changes, the processes need to change.' Mr Sjöblom, who by no means presents himself as an opponent to environmental rules, adds: 'But hey, we are living in democracies, we have things we need to cater for.' The same can't be said for Vladimir Putin's Russia, which has recently opened a new explosives factory in remote Siberia without a care for any Arctic tundra it disturbs. Moscow's ability to build and muster enough shells has been pivotal in its battlefield gains since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Western and Ukrainian intelligence sources continue to claim Russia's armed forces largely rely on donations from North Korea. But the emergence of new facilities to produce ordnance at home is a cause for concern. Annual production of artillery rounds in Russia is believed to be roughly five million shells, outstripping Europe's annual output of 700,000 by around seven to one. At current rates, it would take European militaries a decade to replenish their stockpiles after any ceasefire in Ukraine. European artillery manufacturers would need to find 50,000 metric tonnes of TNT to match Russia. The continent is currently reliant on Poland for the domestically produced explosives needed to build Nato-standard artillery rounds. But Nitro-Chem, the Polish manufacturer, which doesn't comment on its output, still doesn't produce enough TNT to satisfy demand. Boosting manufacturing 'could placate Trump' This means European arms manufacturers have been forced to turn to suppliers in Brazil and India, two founding members of Russia's Brics group, potentially giving the Kremlin the ability to halt artillery shipments to Europe. For Mr Sjöblom, this reliance on foreign suppliers in an attempt to keep peace with Russia is detrimental to Nato's whole philosophy of military deterrence. But he also says boosting manufacturing on the continent would be the perfect way to address Donald Trump's concerns that Europe doesn't do enough to defend itself. 'It's a little ironic that 500 million Europeans are begging 300 million Americans for help to defend against an enemy of 140 million people in Russia, who have struggled against a country with 40 million people in Ukraine,' Mr Sjöblom said. The tech entrepreneur does believe there is hope that the EU is waking up to the need to ignore some of its environmental regulations if it is to deliver a continent-wide rearmament. The bloc's ASAP (Act in Support of Ammunition Production) aims to boost production of artillery rounds and missiles, and promises to push member states to adopt easier administrative processes. 'So there are movements from Brussels that impact how permits are given out,' Mr Sjöblom explained. The European Commission did not respond to The Telegraph's requests to comment on the issue of environmental blockages to rearmament. 'A nature reserve sign won't deter Putin' But similar complaints have sprung up across the bloc since Putin's invasion of Ukraine. One of the most prominent critics is Ruben Brekelmans, the Dutch defence minister, who told a Paris defence event earlier this year: 'In the Netherlands, certain EU environmental legislation prevents the military from conducting exercises and from expanding our bases. 'And of course the environment is important and should be protected, but Putin won't be deterred by a sign warning him that he's about to enter a nature reserve.' Nitrogen emission rules mean that many military sites cannot be built, or farms – the major emitter of the gas – have to be sacrificed as countries try to hit quotas. This has prevented the Dutch government from signing off on permits to build the barracks necessary to grow its armed forces to increase from 74,000 to 200,000. Meanwhile, a judge recently ruled that tanks and fighter jets could not be used in certain areas of the Netherlands without breaching the rules. Still, the Commission is trying to ease the problem for its members' militaries by giving defence ministries more flexibility. This includes a promise to 'enable the rapid renewal of building and environmental permits for defence-industrial projects by designating them as a matter of public interest'. And Ursula von der Leyen, the Commission president, recently said: 'There could be no stronger symbol and no greater use for that money than to make Ukraine and all of Europe a safer place to live.'
Sky News
3 days ago
- Business
- Sky News
New UK weapons factories to be built 'very soon', Defence Secretary John Healey reveals
New weapons factories will be built "very soon" to show Vladimir Putin the UK is "stepping up our deterrents", the defence secretary has told Sky News. Last night, the government announced at least six new arms plants as part of a £6bn push to rearm at a time of growing threats. No details on timings or where the factories would be were provided ahead of the publication of the government's strategic defence review, which the £6bn investment will be part of, on Monday. But Defence Secretary John Healey told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: "We should expect to see new factories opening very soon. "And we've already got strong munitions factories in every part of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. "The investment we're making will boost the jobs in those areas as well." Asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin should be "frightened now" or in the future, Mr Healey said: "The message to Putin is we take our defence seriously, we're stepping up our deterrents." The government also announced it would buy up to 7,000 long-range missiles, rockets and drones as part of the £6bn rearmament strategy. Mr Healey said he has "no doubt" defence spending will hit 3% of GDP in the next parliament. He defended not trying to get to that in this parliament - by 2029 - and said: "It's how much [is spent on defence], but also how you spend it." The defence secretary said his government is showing a sense of urgency by investing £1bn into cyber warfare capabilities, £1.5bn to improve forces' housing over the next five years and a £6bn commitment to "rearm" over the next five years. Senior Conservative Robert Jenrick told Trevor Phillips he welcomed "any extra investment in defence" and the fact Labour had reaffirmed the UK's commitment to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence. However, he said: "We want to see the UK reach 3% within this parliament, we think that 2034 is a long time to wait, given the gravity of the situation." He called Mr Healey "a good man" who is "doing what needs to be done in the national interest". But he added: "I am sceptical as to whether Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, is going to make good on these promises. "Since the general election, all I can see are broken promises from Rachel Reeves."
Russia Today
4 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
UK to dramatically increase weapons production
The UK will invest £1.5 billion ($2 billion) in new weapons factories as part of a sweeping rearmament strategy, Defense Secretary John Healey has move comes ahead of the publication of the government's Strategic Defense Review on Monday. The plan includes the construction of at least six new munitions and explosives factories and the procurement of more than 7,000 domestically produced long-range weapons, including drones and missiles. Healey has also pledged to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2034.'The hard-fought lessons from [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine show a military is only as strong as the industry that stands behind it,' Healey said in a statement on Saturday. 'We are strengthening the UK's industrial base to better deter our adversaries and make the UK secure at home and strong abroad.'The conflict in Ukraine has highlighted significant shortfalls in Western arms production. Senior British officers have warned for months about depleted stockpiles, according to the politicians questioned the timing of the announcement, pointing out that procurement had stalled over the past year. 'We welcome investment in new munitions factories, but we don't know when they will be ready – only that these orders should have been placed months ago,' said Conservative shadow defense secretary James UK has been one of Ukraine's staunchest backers in its conflict with Russia, as NATO members in Europe seek to boost military support amid concerns that the US under President Donald Trump may scale back aid to has repeatedly warned that foreign military assistance would only escalate the conflict without altering its eventual outcome. Russian officials have also accused former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson of encouraging Ukraine to abandon peace negotiations in the spring of 2022 – a claim Johnson has denied. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed his denial as a 'blatant lie.'
