Sunak Rolls Out £5 Billion Defence Boost as Global Tensions Spike
The Prime Minister has unveiled a bold plan to supercharge UK defence spending. With the world growing ever more unstable, the Government is updating its 2021 Integrated Review to tackle fresh threats head-on.
Extra £5 Billion to Modernise Armed Forces
The 2023 Integrated Review Refresh reveals an extra £5 billion pumped into the Ministry of Defence over the next two years. This funding will top up critical ammo supplies, upgrade the UK’s nuclear capabilities, and push forward the next stage of the AUKUS submarine project.
This follows a huge £24 billion defence spending hike in 2020—the biggest stretch of increases since the Cold War era.
Sunak Eyes 2.5% of GDP on Defence, Champions NATO Leadership
The PM aims to boost defence spending up to 2.5% of GDP over time. Britain will also spearhead talks on future NATO strategy and burden sharing at the upcoming summit in Lithuania this summer. Defence budgets will be further reviewed post-2025 with this goal in mind.
Facing Down Russia and China’s Rising Threats
The refreshed review addresses new threats from Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and China’s growing military and economic muscle. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK must be “ready to stand our ground” amid mounting global competition.
“By investing in our armed forces for the long-term, we will be ready for the challenges of today and of the future. The UK will remain a leading contributor to NATO and a reliable international partner, standing up for our values from Ukraine to the South China Seas,” Sunak said.
“Global crises like Russia’s appalling invasion have driven up energy and food prices here at home. That’s why we will strengthen our defences—economic security, technology supply chains, intelligence—to ensure we’re never vulnerable to hostile powers again.”
Global Alliances to Shape Britain’s Defence Future
The UK will maintain its lead in Euro-Atlantic security while cementing its strategic pivot to the Indo-Pacific. Today, Sunak meets US President Biden and Australia’s Prime Minister Albanese in San Diego to accelerate the AUKUS submarine programme, forging stronger trilateral defence ties.
