Rishi Sunak warned the world is now “more unstable and dangerous” than at any time since the Cold War, as the Prime Minister visited Poland to discuss the threat of an expansionist Russia and focus the world’s eyes again on Ukraine. And started traveling to Germany. ,
Speaking to reporters while flying to Poland, the Prime Minister said that we “unfortunately live in a world that is far more dangerous than it was in the last decade, perhaps even more dangerous than the end of the Cold War”. , he further said that this is why it is “important that we invest more in our defense and that is what we are doing”.
“My first priority is to keep people safe, and you are right, I have been honest with people that the world is less safe than it has been in decades and my job, really my obligation, is to invest in keeping the country safe, And that’s what I’m doing.”
further announcement £500 million of military aid is being sent to Ukraine – Taking total UK support this year to £3 billion – The Prime Minister told journalists he was “proud” that the UK is leading the way in supporting Ukraine and also told European allies to support Europeans in these volatile times. Investing in security is “important”.
“We are moving forward because that is what the situation demands and requires,” he said.
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“And if we are involved in this with other European partners it is vital that Europeans invest in their own security,” he told Sky News.
,[It was] There was very welcome news from the US over the weekend, but it doesn’t diminish the need for Europeans to invest in their own security.
“I am very proud that the UK has always led the way in this regard. We are Europe’s largest defense spender and one of the few countries that has consistently met the 2% NATO pledge and today’s action is an example of our Another example of leading in form.”
The Prime Minister is also being joined by his Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Defense Secretary Grant Shapps on the trip, raising expectations that the Prime Minister could make a major funding commitment on defense when he returns to the world stage. He will meet Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the next 24 hours.
Britain on Monday made its largest-ever donation of kit to the Ukraine war effort, including more than 400 vehicles, more than 1,600 missiles and 4 million rounds of ammunition as Russia intervened.
“They have asked and we have answered,” the prime minister said, warning that Mr Putin “will not stop at the Polish border” if Russia defeats Ukraine.
But after raiding Britain’s arsenal for sending equipment to Ukraine, the next obvious question is whether the Prime Minister will finally increase Britain’s defense spending to 2.5% of GDP in the face of the growing threat from Russia and China.
The drum beat is becoming louder after two ministers – Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Tom Tugendhat – last month publicly urged the government to invest at “much greater speed”.
The Chancellor has said that spending above the 2% NATO target will rise to this figure “as soon as economic conditions are favourable”.
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UN urges Britain to reconsider Rwanda plan
Government is borrowing more than forecast
The Public Accounts Committee, the House of Commons’ spending watchdog, has warned that the gap between the MoD budget and the cost of the UK’s desired military capabilities has widened to £16.9bn – the largest ever There is a deficit – despite promises of investment of more than £46 billion. In the next decade.
fresh from victory On the passage of his historic Rwandan law And while insisting flights will resume at a regular rhythm from July, the trip to Europe is part of a publicity campaign as the embattled prime minister seeks to get on the front foot ahead of next week’s local elections he knows will be a disastrous one. The Night Is may bring him not only back on his heels but in free fall.
Kiev’s weapons stockpile has been depleted; a $60 billion military aid package was stuck in the US Congress for months. the house of Representatives Funding was finally approved over the weekendThe deal now awaits Senate approval, which should mean US arms should begin flowing to Ukraine in the coming days.