“To meet the wider threat, it’s clear that we are going to have to spend more, faster.”
These were the very welcome words of our Prime Minister over the weekend as he met with fellow world leaders for the 62nd Munich Security Conference. His remarks echoed a wider recognition among world leaders that the pace and scale of current geopolitical challenges demand a step change in collective readiness.
History has shown time and time again that delaying action until a crisis is already underway has been a costly mistake. Periods of assumed stability have too often lulled nations into woefully underestimating the level of preparedness required to protect their citizens and support their allies. As the industry body, we have too often watched this occur from the sidelines, being brought into the conversation far too late and then expected to help deliver the unthinkable in times of crisis. In today’s security environment, we cannot allow history to repeat itself. Increasing our defence spending, as the Prime Minister noted, is at the crux of this and one that needs to see decisive action on.
When it comes to defence spending, though, the question we should ask is: what defines enough? What is the minimum we need to provide meaningful security for our citizens, deliver our obligations to NATO and support our allies? How much will building a stronger Europe and a more European NATO cost? Not only that, but when do we need to spend it?
Practically, the announced increases in spending will deliver on the long-term demand signal that helps us to do what we do best: deliver capabilities that are needed to uphold our security, in a way that delivers value for money to the citizens we are here to protect.
However, we cannot underestimate the scale of the immediate challenge – a quick fix will not build the military capability or industrial capacity we need for our security given the current global threats. Great words from Downing Street about accelerating progress toward investment targets are very welcome, they must however now be matched with sustained action. Momentum, particularly at a time of increasing international scepticism, matters. Our allies are looking for evidence, not reassurance, that the UK will play a leading role in strengthening European security, as the Prime Minister rightly emphasised.
Ultimately, spending targets only have value when they are shaped by the realities of the threat picture and can be measured by delivery against the target. Promises not delivered or arbitrary figures, detached from the international context, risk obscuring the scale and urgency of the challenge. As global tensions rise and war stops being only in the gray zone or on the cyber front and impacts on our daily lives, it is clearer than ever that the UK must continue working closely with industry, partners and allies to reinforce shared resilience and contribute to a stronger, more secure Europe. And do it quickly.
