United Kingdom Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has defended his government’s decision to channel an additional £15 billion into defence, arguing that Britain must be prepared for war in order to prevent it.
Unveiling the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan on Tuesday, Starmer said the growing security threats facing Europe and the wider world required a stronger and better-equipped military.
The package is expected to raise annual UK defence spending from about £54 billion when Labour took office to around £80 billion by 2029.
The prime minister acknowledged that funding the military expansion would come at a cost, with some planned road and energy infrastructure projects set to be shelved as part of a wider reallocation of government capital spending.
Officials said departments would absorb reductions in investment budgets to help finance the defence programme.
Starmer said, “When the world is arming and aggression is rising, the best way to avoid war is to prepare for it.
“The best way to defend is to deter, to have the strength to make your adversaries think again before they act.
“And that is what we are doing.”
The Defence Investment Plan places a strong emphasis on modern warfare technologies, including drones, autonomous weapons systems, advanced artificial intelligence capabilities and next-generation fighter aircraft. Around £5 billion has been earmarked for drones and autonomous military systems, while billions more will be invested in nuclear deterrence, weapons stockpiles and future combat aircraft programmes.
The announcement comes as NATO members face mounting pressure to increase military spending amid concerns over Russia’s continued aggression and broader global instability.
Starmer said the investment would strengthen Britain’s armed forces, support defence manufacturing and ensure the country remains capable of deterring potential adversaries.
However, critics have questioned whether the funding increase goes far enough, with some military figures warning that the armed forces still face significant budget pressures despite the new package.
Others have criticised the decision to delay or cancel civilian infrastructure projects to pay for the defence expansion.
