Great Britain increases military budget: billions for new submarines!

Great Britain invests billions in the military and defense to make the armed forces ready for war and to promote NATO strength.
Great Britain invests billions in the military and defense to make the armed forces ready for war and to promote NATO strength. (Symbolbild/NAG)

Great Britain increases military budget: billions for new submarines!

Great Britain makes the military and defense seriously with billion dollar investments. Prime Minister Keir Strander has emphasized that the central task of the British government is to put the forces in a state of war. This decision is made against the background of the geopolitical changes caused by the Russian attack war on Ukraine. With a so-called "NATO-FIRST" posture, the British government pursues the goal of contributing to the strength of the western military alliance, such as ZVW reported.

In order to achieve these goals, Great Britain plans measures that include the construction of up to twelve new submarines. In addition, £ 15 billion (around 18 billion euros) is to be invested in the production of nuclear warheads. These investments should not only make the military ability of the British armed forces ten times more powerful by 2035, but also create tens of thousands of jobs in the nuclear area.

focus on ammunition production and reach

The British Ministry of Defense has also announced an investment of £ 1.5 billion (approx. 1.8 billion euros) to boost ammunition production. The construction of at least six new factories and an expansion of the weapons spectrum are planned to provide armed forces more weapons with a greater range. Defense Minister John Healey emphasizes that a strong industry is of central importance for military strength.

The investments of the UK are also made in the context of a broader debate about military financing in Europe. According to information from Wirtschaftsjournal , NATO states have undertaken to issue at least 2 % of their GDP for defense, whereby an increase is being discussed to 3.5 % or more. A study by the Kiel Institute shows that higher arms expenditure could increase economic growth in the EU by 0.9 to 1.5 %, provided that investments flow into European armaments companies and not in imports.

economic dark sides and challenges

However, there are also critical voices that warn of possible negative consequences for social areas, education and infrastructure when billions flow into the military. In this way, necessary cuts in these areas could have serious effects on society. It is also feared that the booming armaments industry could deduct qualified workers from other industries, which could lead to another imbalance on the labor market.

Since the discussion about arms expenditure in Europe is gaining drive, experts see a stronger EU-wide coordination of military spending than necessary in order to reduce costs and achieve economic benefits. The challenge of balancing between security and economic stability is becoming increasingly clear. In Germany, for example, the CDU and CSU are calling for an increase in the defense budget, while other parties put the social consequences in the foreground, as on bmvg

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