Amidst forecast of double-dip recession in the fourth quarter of 2020, majorly due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the British Prime Minister – Boris Johnson has announced a huge increase of £16.5 billion (U.S. $ 21.8 billion) in the existing budget of country’s armed forces.
The United Kingdom’s (U.K.’s) budget for 2020-2021 is £ 41.5 billion. This is the largest military boost since the end of Cold War which ended around 30 years back in 1991. The funds will be allocated over 4 years.
The funds would be used in space and cyber defence projects. This would also create 40,000 new jobs. The space and cyber defence projects include setting-up of a new agency dedicated to Artificial Intelligence. U.K. will also create a National Cyber Force to protect its people from harm and a new ‘Space Command’, which will be capable of launching its first rocket in 2022.
The funds would also be used to enhance and upgrade military’s aircraft carriers, frigates, next generation cruise missiles and the UK’s nuclear program. Some funds would also be allocated to a joint U.S.-U.K. research effort, known as “next generation”, which focuses on projects such as hypersonic missiles and directed energy weapons.
Announcing the boost, self-isolating Johnson said, “I have taken this decision in the teeth of the pandemic because the defence of the realm must come first.”
He further added, “The international situation is more perilous and more intensely competitive than at any time since the Cold War and Britain must be true to our history and stand alongside our allies. To achieve this, we need to upgrade our capabilities across the board.”
Johnson believes that giving the much-needed boost to the military is important to stand alongside its allies. He seeks this as a chance to end the era of retreat, transform the armed forces, bolster U.K.’s global influence, pioneer new technology and defend the people of U.K. and way of life.
Johnson is expected to deliver a speech in the U.K.’s House of Commons outlining the details of the spending boost. The move is seen to please members of Johnson’s Conservative Party as he has been criticised a lot over his handling of COVID-19 and the shuffle in his Cabinet after his Chief Advisor – Dominic Cummings and the Director of Communications for 10 Downing Street – Lee Cain resigned recently.
The boost comes ahead of an integrated review of the U.K.’s foreign, defense, development and security policy, which is expected to release in the new year.
Notably, U.K. will enter its post-Brexit phase in January 2020. At the same time, the President-elect of the Unites States (U.S.) – Joe Biden would be resuming office. The influx of cash could consolidate U.K.’s position as the largest defense spender on the continent and the second largest in NATO. This fact is likely to please the U.S. The U.S. has already welcomed the decision as an indicative of the U.K.’s commitment to NATO and their shared security.
