UK’s Defence Underfunding: A Wake-Up Call

The UK's defence strategy is under scrutiny as former NATO Secretary General George Robertson accuses the government of 'corrosive complacency' towards defence, putting the country's security at risk.

In a scathing assessment, Robertson, who also authored the government's strategic defence review, believes the current leadership is not investing adequately in military preparedness. This comes as the Iran war serves as a stark reminder of the UK's vulnerabilities.

Robertson's remarks, reported by the Financial Times, highlight the government's failure to address the £28bn funding gap the military faces over the next four years. He argues that the Treasury's focus on welfare spending is detrimental to national defence.

The government's defence investment plan, promised last autumn, has been repeatedly delayed, indicating a lack of urgency. Robertson suggests that spending cuts in other departments might be necessary to bolster defence funding.

The former defence secretary will deliver a lecture in Salisbury, emphasizing the urgent need for action. He will highlight the UK's inability to deploy more than one Royal Navy warship to the Mediterranean during the Iran war as a symptom of complacency.

The speech will also address shortages in military equipment and resources, including logistics, engineering, cyber, ammunition, training, and medical supplies. Robertson's warnings come as the defence secretary, John Healey, revealed a covert Russian submarine operation near UK waters.

Despite the government's commitment to the strategic defence review and a £270bn investment, Robertson's criticism underscores the need for a more proactive approach to ensure the UK's safety and security.