Defence Online

Head of British Army urges increase in military spending

Land January 22, 2018

The Head of the Army has warned that Britain will need to increase defence spending to keep pace the threat of Russia.

In a speech to be given at the Royal United Services Institute in London, General Sir Nick Carter is expected to say: “Our ability to pre-empt or respond to threats will be eroded if we don’t keep up with our adversaries.”

Gen Carter’s stark warning follows Russia’s simulated exercises across Northern Europe and has been supported by Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, who has been seeking to avoid any cuts to military funding.

He will point out that Russia is building an increasingly aggressive expeditionary force that Britain would find difficult to match.

Gen Carter will also use the speech to warn that the threat facing Britain is much closer to home. He is expected to say: “The threats we face are not thousands of miles away but are now on Europe’s doorstep – we have seen how cyber warfare can be both waged on the battlefield and to disrupt normal people’s lives – we in the UK are not immune from that.  The time to address these threats is now – we cannot afford to sit back.”

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General Sir Nick Carter Head of the Army Royal United Services Institute Russia

Post written by: Matt Brown