British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday pledged to increase Britain’s military funding by 5 billion pounds ($6 billion) over the next two years in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and a “defining challenge” imposed by China.
The increase, part of a larger overhaul of Britain’s foreign and defense policy, is smaller than military officials would have liked. Sunak said the UK would increase military spending to 2.5% of GDP “in the long term”, but did not set a date. Britain currently spends just 2% of GDP on defence, and military chiefs want to raise that to 3%.
The extra money will be used to replenish Britain’s munitions stockpile by providing it to Ukraine for defense against Russia. Some would point to the UK-US-Australia agreement to develop nuclear-powered submarines.
Sunak is due to meet US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in San Diego on Monday to confirm the next phase of the military agreement, known as AUKUS, signed by the three countries in 2021 amid growing concern over China’s activities in the Pacific.
Britain last developed a security, defense and foreign policy framework in 2021, known as the Integrated Review. The government ordered a renewal in response to an increasingly volatile world. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has shaken European security, and the UK is also increasingly concerned about what the government calls “an increasingly era-defining challenge posed by the Chinese Communist Party in terms of military, financial and diplomatic activities”.
Britain’s intelligence agencies have expressed growing concern about China’s military strength, covert operations and economic strength. Ken McCallum, head of the domestic spy agency MI5, said in November that “the activities of the Chinese Communist Party represent the most revolutionary strategic challenge for the UK”.
That concern has prompted a government-wide recovery campaign in China, including Mandarin training for British officials and an effort to secure new sources of essential minerals critical to technology.
Chung also emphasized the need for economic ties with China, which irritated conservative members of the party.
Speaking during a visit to America, Sunak said, “China presents an era-defining challenge for us and the world order. It is increasingly authoritarian at home and assertive abroad, and it wants to reshape the world order.
But given the size of China’s economy, “you can’t ignore it,” he said.
He said it is right that we engage with China on issues that can make a difference, such as climate change, global health, macroeconomic stability, and find common ground.
“This is the right approach, while firmly protecting our values and our interests.”
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