United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on 13 March 2023 vowed to increase military funding by £5 billion, or $6 billion, over the next 2 years. Sunak cited Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the "epoch-defining challenge" posed by China.
The PM said that UK would increase its military spending from 2% to 2.5% of the GDP "in the longer term". Military chiefs want it to rise to 3% of GDP.
The extra money will be used, in part, to replenish Britain's ammunition stocks, depleted from supplying Ukraine in its defense against Russia. Some will also go towards a U.K.-U.S.-Australia deal to build nuclear-powered submarines.
Concern about Beijing's activities has sparked a government-wide catch-up campaign on China, including Mandarin-language training for British officials and a push to secure new sources of critical minerals that are essential to technology.
The review doesn't brand China itself a threat to the U.K., and Sunak has stressed the need for economic ties with China, to the annoyance of more hawkish members of the governing Conservative Party.
(With agency inputs)
Also Watch: Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Albanese to meet in San Diego; announcement of Australia submarine deal likely