The United Kingdom has fallen behind Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran in defense funding, according to a report by The Times. Over the last decade, Britain’s defense budget grew by only 14%, compared to Russia’s 34%, Iran’s 57%, and China’s 60%, as per research from the House of Commons Library.
This limited growth has resulted in significant challenges, including a shrinking army, aging submarines, and unreliable air defense systems. The Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth, have faced technical issues, while shortages persist in F-35 aircraft, escort ships, and support vessels.
James Heappey, former Minister of State for the Armed Forces, warned that troop levels are below what is needed for current threats, with the army set to decrease to 72,500 personnel. With a defense budget of $71.3 billion for 2024 (2.3% of GDP), the UK faces growing pressure to increase spending, especially as NATO allies, urged by US President-elect Donald Trump, consider raising their defense investments to 5% of GDP.
