Today, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that during his visit to the Polish capital, Warsaw, he will bring the defense industry on a military footing, announcing new long-term funding of ten billion British pounds ($12.43 billion) for munitions production in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Reuters and BTA reported.
"We will bring the British defense industry to a war footing. "One of the main lessons from the conflict in Ukraine is that we need more durable stockpiles of ammunition and that industry must be able to rebuild them quickly," Sunak said at a joint press conference in Poland with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.< /p>
He also warned of a growing threat to international security, noting at the same time that "the danger should not be exaggerated". "We are not on the brink of war and we are not looking for it," said the British prime minister, quoted by Reuters.
Reuters also reported that Sunak had announced an increase in Britain's defense spending to 2.5 percent of the country's gross domestic product, reaching 87 billion British pounds ($108 billion) a year by 2030.
The British Prime Minister added that his country cannot be complacent at a time when the world is in the most dangerous situation since the end of the Cold War.
Reuters points out that Sunak is being pressured by his fellow ruling Conservatives to increase military spending sooner, after saying he could do so "as quickly as economic conditions allow".
Increasing British defense spending, now around 2.32% of GDP, would not only be welcomed by Sunak's Conservative Party ahead of this year's UK general election, which polls predict the Conservatives will lose, but would also weaken the arguments of those candidates for the management of the state, which give primary importance to defense, notes Reuters.
Such a move would also be welcomed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who is calling on alliance members to meet the bloc's recommendation for military spending of at least 2 percent of GDP.
"In a world where we are witnessing the most dangerous situation since the end of the Cold War, we cannot be complacent," Sunak announced during the press conference together with Stoltenberg in Warsaw.
"As our adversaries unite, we must do more to protect our country, our interests and our values. Europe is now at a turning point for its security, one that is significant for the UK's defence. This is an investment for generations to come in British safety and British prosperity, which will make us calmer at home and stronger across our borders," the British Prime Minister stressed.
The government's announcement of an additional $75 billion in defense spending over six years makes Britain the second-highest military spender among NATO members, according to Reuters. The government announced this after Sunak pledged to increase British military aid to Ukraine by 500 million pounds, bringing the total amount of support to Kiev for this financial year to 3 billion pounds, the agency noted, adding that the decision was welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.