UK Defense Secretary John Healey has emphasized the need for a heightened defense strategy as efforts to end the war in Ukraine continue and US-Russia talks commence in Saudi Arabia. Speaking at a news conference in London, Healey described the current global landscape as a 'new era of threat' that necessitates a corresponding evolution in defense measures.
Healey highlighted the UK's commitment to bolstering its defense capabilities, citing a significant increase in defense spending this year amounting to nearly £3 billion ($3.8 billion). He also announced plans to allocate 2.5% of GDP towards defense spending in the near future, although this falls short of the 5% of GDP target advocated by the Trump administration.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed readiness to potentially deploy British forces on the ground in collaboration with other nations, contingent upon the establishment of a lasting peace agreement. Starmer's stance was reinforced during an emergency summit in Paris, where he joined other European leaders to strategize a unified response to the implications of a reduced US presence in the region.
Healey underscored the critical nature of the decisions to be made in the coming weeks, asserting that these choices will not only shape the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine but also determine the security landscape of the world for generations to come.
