March 8th 2024.
Members of Parliament have recently expressed concern over the state of defence spending in the UK, citing a lack of adequate funds despite growing geopolitical threats. It's no secret that the British military has been shrinking in size over the years, even as tensions with Russia continue to escalate and conflicts in the Middle East persist.
The cross-party Public Accounts Committee, in a report released today, has revealed that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has failed to come up with a solid plan to finance the government's desired level of military capability. This leaves the nation vulnerable to potential attacks from hostile nations. According to Dame Meg Hillier, the chair of the PAC, this has resulted in a staggering deficit of approximately £29 billion.
What makes this situation even more concerning is the fact that Britain currently has around 185,000 active personnel, a number that is significantly lower than it should be. As a nation, we rely heavily on our allies to protect our interests, and the current gaps in our military capabilities only serve to increase this reliance. This has also led to a decline in the credibility of our armed forces, which is a cause for alarm.
Interestingly, Jeremy Hunt, the former foreign secretary and son of a Royal Navy commander, has not addressed this issue during his tenure. Even the recent Spring Budget announcement by the Chancellor made no mention of defence spending. In its report, the PAC highlighted the recruitment issues faced by the armed forces, with more people leaving than being recruited, as well as the fact that several Royal Navy vessels have been taken out of commission due to shortages in crew members.
To put things into perspective, the Royal Navy currently ranks 31st in terms of fleet strength, while the UK as a whole ranks 6th overall, 15th for airpower, and a concerning 55th for land power. This puts us behind other NATO members such as Germany, Spain, Poland, and Romania. It's clear that our current military resources are not enough to stand up against nations like Russia and China, who have far superior air, land, and naval forces.
In a comparison of military strength between the UK and Russia, it is evident that Russia holds a significant advantage. Despite suffering losses in Ukraine, their military remains unmatched and poses a significant threat to our nation. When looking at global rankings, the UK only has 664 aircraft, placing us at a modest 15th place.
The PAC also criticized the MoD's procurement processes, stating that the slow delivery of new systems has resulted in gaps in our military capabilities. Shockingly, out of 46 equipment programs, only two are likely to be completed on time, within budget, and to the desired quality. Five projects, including nuclear submarine reactors, are at risk of not being delivered at all.
Dame Meg emphasized that this is not a new issue and that the committee has consistently seen budget overruns and delays in defence procurement. She called out the MoD for their lack of discipline and inconsistency in budgeting, which has led to an unreliable overview of the equipment program's affordability. It's concerning that despite an increase in the budget, the situation has only worsened. The MoD must take a more proactive approach to address these issues, or else we risk not being able to provide the necessary military capabilities to protect our nation.
Make sure to follow us at Metro for the latest news updates. You can also join our community on Whatsapp for breaking news and juicy stories. As it stands, the UK ranks a mediocre 15th in terms of military strength, with a mere 664 aircraft in our possession. This is a stark reminder that action needs to be taken to address the current state of our defence spending.
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