The UK’s incoming Secretary of State (SofS) for Defence has underlined several key defence and security commitments the country’s new government will continue to prioritise. These priorities include maintaining military support for Ukraine, and aiming to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence.
Speaking to Ministry of Defence (MoD) headquarters staff in London on 5 July, the day after the country’s general election, Defence Secretary John Healey said “this government now is totally committed to 2.5% of defence spending, to NATO, to the nuclear deterrent, and to support for Ukraine.”
The UK’s continuing support for Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia was underlined when, two days later, SofS Healey visited Odesa, southern Ukraine and met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alongside Ukraine’s defence minister Rustem Umerov.
In Odesa, the UK’s new SofS pledged to step up UK support. According to an MoD statement, this new package of support would include supplying 10 artillery pieces, around 250,000 round of .50-cal ammunition, 90 Brimstone anti-armour missiles, 50 small military boats to support riverine and coastal operations, and 40 de-mining vehicles.
The UK would also ‘fast track’ delivery in full of a military support package committed to Ukraine back in April. The MoD statement noted that this previous equipment package would arrive within 100 days.
Talking to MoD staff back in London, Healey added “We know these are serious times – war in Europe, conflict in the Middle East, growing Russian aggression, increasing global threats. We know there are serious problems – with our armed forces hollowed out and underfunded for 14 years.”
“I want to see defence at the heart both of the future security of this country, and the future success of this country,” Healey continued. “That means an armed forces well-equipped and ready to fight; a skilled, scalable industrial base; a stronger relationship with allies; a more influential MoD; [and] a public that understands and better supports those who are willing to serve.”
The new UK government has already had an early opportunity to strengthen relations with key allies, with NATO’s Washington Summit taking place on 10 July.
The UK’s nuclear deterrent is in the process of being renewed, through the build of four Dreadnought-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). The first Dreadnought boat is scheduled to enter service in the early 2030s.
by Dr. Lee Willett
