Citing the threat of Russia, the British leader announces an increase in military spending, in particular new nuclear propulsion submarines Blogging Sole

London -The United Kingdom will built up to a dozen new nuclear attack submarines, will prepare its army to fight a war in Europe and become “a nation ready for the battle, dressed in armor,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised on Monday. The promise is part of a planned military boost – Echo recently by other close American allies in Europe – Designed to send a message to Moscow and President Trump in Washington.

Starmer said that Great Britain “cannot ignore the threat that Russia poses” when it undertook to undertake the most radical changes in the British defenses since the collapse of the Soviet Union more than three decades.

“The threat we are faced with is more serious, more immediate and more unpredictable than in any time since the Cold War,” said Starmer to workers and journalists in a naval shipyard in Scotland.

Like other NATO members, the United Kingdom was Revalle its defense expenses Since the launch of Russia, Ukraine large -scale invasion in February 2022.

The government has announced its plans for the military in response to a strategic defense review commanded by Starmer and managed by George Robertson, former British secretary and general secretary of NATO. It was the first review of this type since 2021, and she landed in a shaken world and transformed by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia – and by the re -election of Mr. Trump last year.

Months after the publication of the latest major defense of Great Britain in 2021, the Minister of the time, Boris Johnson, said that the era of “fighting the big tanks on the European land mass” was over. Three months later, Russian tanks entered Ukraine.

The Government of the Labor Party of the Starmer Gauche-left said that it would accept the 62 recommendations made in the journal, aimed at helping the United Kingdom to face growing threats to land, air, sea and cyberspace.

The measures include the increase in the production of submarines and weapons and “learning Ukraine lessons”, which quickly developed its drone technology to counter Moscow forces and even reach targets deep in Russia. Starmer made his announcement one day after Ukraine has launched an unprecedented drone attack against Russian air basesclaiming to have damaged or destroyed 41 Russian bombers.

The government said the United Kingdom will also establish a cyber command to counter “daily” attacks linked to Russia against British defenses.

Monday’s announcements include the construction of “up to 12” nuclear propulsion submarines and conventionally within the framework of the Aukus partnership with Australia and the United States. The government also claims that it will invest 15 billion pounds (about $ 20.3 billion) in the British nuclear arsenal, which consists of missiles transported on a handful of submarines. The details of these plans should be kept secret.

The government will also increase conventional British weapons stocks with up to 7,000 long-range weapons built in the United Kingdom.

Starmer said that the rearmature would create a “defense divide” of thousands of well -paid manufacturing jobs – a contrast to the “peace dividend” of the post -war period which saw Western nations away the money from defense to other regions.

Defense secretary, John Healey, said the changes would send “a message to Moscow” and transform the country’s soldiers after decades of dismissal, although he said that he does not expect the number of soldiers – currently by two centuries – increased until the early 2030s.

Healey said that defense spending plans to reach 2.5% of national income by 2027 per year are “on the right track” and that there is “without any doubt” that it will reach 3% before 2034.

Starmer said that the 3% target is a “ambition” rather than a firm promise, and it is not clear where the short of money will find the money. The government has already reduced international assistance spending in a contagious manner to reach the target of 2.5%.

Starmer said that he would not make a firm commitment until he knows “precisely where the money comes from”.

Even 3% does not respond to what some NATO leaders are necessary to dissuade Russia from future attacks against its neighbors. NATO chief Mark Rutte says that leaders of the 32 member countries debate the commitment to spending at least 3.5% of GDP in defense when they meet in the Netherlands this month.

It is also a message to Mr. Trump that Europe takes into account its request for NATO members to spend more on their own defense.

European countries, led by the United Kingdom and France, rushed to coordinate their posture of defense while Trump transforms the American foreign policy, apparently away from Europe as he seeks to end the war in Ukraine. Mr. Trump has a long time questioned the value of NATO and complained that the United States ensures security to European countries which do not gain weight.

Starmer said that his government would make “the greatest contribution of Great Britain to NATO since its creation”.

“We will never fight alone,” he said. “Our defense policy will always be NATO-Prime.”

James Cartlidge, a spokesperson for the defense of the main Conservative Party of the British opposition, welcomed more money for the defense, but was skeptical about the government’s commitment to 3%.

“All the promises of a strategic review of the defense of work will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show that there will in fact be enough money to pay them,” he said.