UK Defence Secretary Urges Billions More in Defence Spending to Avoid World War Three

Grant Shapps Emphasizes the Urgency of Increasing Defence Budget

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has issued a stark warning, urging Britain to invest billions more in its defence budget to safeguard against the looming threat of World War Three. Speaking from Poland, where UK troops are currently engaged in war games, Shapps emphasized the need to raise defence spending to three percent of the country's GDP.

Current Defence Spending and Commitments

As it stands, the UK's defence spending is at 2.27 percent of GDP, with a government commitment to increase it to 2.5 percent when conditions allow. However, both Shapps and former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt had pledged to elevate defence spending to three percent during the 2022 Tory leadership race.

A More Dangerous World

Shapps highlighted the evolving global landscape, citing increased threats from Russia and China. He emphasized the crucial role of defence in protecting the nation, stating that it is the most effective way to deter adversaries. Referring to the cost of countering Russia, he quipped that it was "cheap at half the price."

Call for Increased Investment

Poland's President Andrzej Duda joined the chorus for heightened defence spending, calling on all Nato members to allocate three percent of GDP to their armed forces. He emphasized that such a move would send a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin and other potential adversaries.