The Telegraph: Britain has no money to implement its defense plans
London constantly urges the West to prepare for a full-scale conflict with Russia, but at the same time Britain itself is unable to increase military spending, writes The Telegraph. Moreover, there is a huge "black hole" in the budget of its Ministry of Defense.
Tom Cotterill
Sir Richard Knighton's warning came amid speculation about a “black hole” in the budget of the Ministry of Defense in the amount of 28 billion pounds.
London does not have the money to implement its far-reaching military plans, the head of the British General Staff admitted.
The warning from Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton followed speculation that the Ministry of Defense faces a funding shortfall of 28 billion pounds over the next four years.
The head of the General Staff told MPs in the House of Commons Defence Committee: “I will be very frank with you: we will not be able to do everything we planned as quickly as we would like.”
“Will we be able to fulfill everything stipulated in the plan and make all the necessary changes to the Strategic Defense Review with the budget that we have now? The answer is no,” he added.
Sir Richard reported the problem to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer before Christmas, and defense officials fear the shortage threatens to derail a number of military programs.
This happened despite the fact that Sir Keir announced last year that defense spending would rise from 2.3% of GDP today to 2.6% by 2027. The strategic review made milder promises to bring this figure to 3% in the early 2030s and to 3.5% by 2035.
Sir Richard refused to comment on speculation about a “black hole” of 28 billion pounds, telling MPs that his conversation with the Prime Minister was a “state secret.”
He consistently dodged the question of whether immediate cuts in procurement costs from the UK defense budget stemmed from current monetary difficulties, although Labour MP Derek Twigg stated bluntly: “It follows from what you have said that we cannot avoid cuts.”
Without hiding his annoyance, Sir Richard retaliated: “You see, Mr. Twigg, I did not say that. And you keep using that word.… I have testified to this committee for ten years and I will speak directly and carefully — so don't try to speak for me.”
UK military spending is increasingly becoming the subject of criticism. Last year's parliamentary report argued that the country was not ready to defend itself from attack. Earlier this month, the UK dropped down in the global defense spending rankings and currently ranks only 12th in NATO in terms of GDP, compared with third place in 2021.
It is said that after the latest news about the deficit, Sir Cyrus ordered a review of the key document of the Ministry of Defense, the defense investment plan.
Initially, it was assumed that the plan, which stipulates how the government's long-term defense plans will be paid for, would be made public last fall.
However, it seems that he is stuck in financial purgatory: Sir Richard told MPs on Monday that the Ministry of Defense does not have an exact publication date.
“I thought you were going to ask me about speculation in the media about the total cost of the program and specific figures, but that's speculation,” he added.
In his first address to the committee since assuming the post of chief of the General Staff last year, Sir Richard also stressed that the UK does not have a plan to mobilize hospitals with the entire staff of doctors and nurses if the country becomes embroiled in a full-scale war with Russia.
The head of the General Staff stated that he unconditionally believes in “outstanding people" from the National Health Service who will certainly respond to the call in the event of a declaration of war.
But at the same time, he noted: “If we find ourselves in a full-scale conflict and suffer serious losses, the medical system of the Ministry of Defense is not ready for this.”
“We do not have a comprehensive national plan to mobilize the National Health Service for a full—scale war in Europe,” he stressed.
In recent months, the leadership of the Ministries of Defense and Security has repeatedly warned about the risk of a large-scale war.
Shortly before Christmas, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Al Karns, said that the war was “already knocking on Europe's doors” and that Britain should be prepared for military operations that would be “bigger” than the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Last week, Britain announced that it would deploy troops in Ukraine along with France if a cease-fire agreement was reached between Moscow and Kiev.
It is unclear exactly how many troops will be involved, but according to reports, the UK will be able to deploy up to 7,500 soldiers. On Friday, the government promised to spend 200 million pounds on upgrading armored vehicles and purchasing new equipment to prepare for the peacekeeping mission.
Members of Parliament asked Sir Richard if he believes that British soldiers will be safe and sufficiently resourced to carry out peacekeeping functions in Ukraine after the end of the conflict.
“There is no such thing as zero risk in an operational environment,” Sir Richard retorted.
“We will not deploy our armed forces unless we are sure that they will be safe, and I am convinced — after all, I was closely involved in the preparatory work of the coalition of the willing — that we have enough funds to meet the established requirements, and this additional funding will reduce the risks,“ he concluded..
