In order to restructure the armed forces and the ways in which government agencies hire, fund, equip, and manage them, Sir Keir Starmer has started a "root and branch" strategic defence review.
George Robertson, 78, the former secretary general of Nato who oversaw Tony Blair's ground-breaking 1998 defence review, will chair a team from outside Whitehall that will monitor the review.
The Government's defence review has been praised by Defence Secretary John Healey as the "first of its kind" and as one that will "take a fresh look at the challenges we face".
Healey stated that "threats are growing" and mentioned the "increasing instability and uncertainty" in the world, citing the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East.
What does strategic defence actually mean?
Strategic defence is a type of military planning doctrine and a set defence and/or combat activities, used for the purpose of deterring, resisting, and repelling a strategic offensive.
Why has the defence review been launched?
The new defence secretary, John Healey, said the forces had been "hollowed out" and neglected for years when outlining the review's parameters. There are fewer people joining all three services than there are leaving. Three out of every four prospective recruits opt out since the joining procedure might take up to a year, making the recruitment process excessively drawn out and onerous. Other significant concerns are housing and terms of service.
Before the evaluation findings are released in the summer of the following year, these flaws must be swiftly addressed through a reform programme.
Threat has also increased. The focus on the challenges posed by China in the Pacific and the expansion of war from Ukraine into Europe is one of the main distinctions between this assessment and the two strategic reviews conducted by the Conservative government in 2021 and 2023. Lord Robertson declared, "We are facing a new deadly, highly unstable quartet of Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea."
What will the review involve?
The "root and branch review" of the armed forces, according to the prime minister, will assist the UK to prepare for "a more dangerous and volatile world”.
The review will ensure that the UK stays at the forefront of Nato, boosts homeland security, and places personnel at the centre of defence.The review seeks to present its conclusions in the first half of 2025 and will accept responses until the end of September from the military, veterans, MPs, the defence industry, the public, academia, and the UK's allies.
Sir Keir has stated previously that the review will lay out a "roadmap" for achieving the aim of allocating 2.5 per cent of the country's GDP on defence, but he has not yet provided a date.
What percentage of GDP does the UK spend on defence?
The UK has pledged to allocate two per cent of its GDP to defence spending that complies with Nato's definition as a member of the alliance. The UK is predicted to have spent 2.3 per cent of GDP on defence in 2023, according to the most recent Nato statistics.
The UK expended £54.2bn on defence in the fiscal year between 2023 and 2024. This is anticipated to increase by 4.5 per cent in real terms to £57.1bn in 2024 and 2025.
