Rishi Sunak Prime Minister, United Kingdom
M y first duty as Prime Minister is the security of the British people … We have entered a period of history in which competition between countries has sharpened profoundly. An axis of authoritarian states with different values to ours … like Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China … are increasingly assertive. The danger they pose is not new. But what is new is that these countries – or their proxies are causing more instability, more quickly, in more places at once. And they’re increasingly acting together making common cause in an attempt to reshape the world order. Now I know there are some people who will think these are faraway problems. But they are not. They pose real risks to the United Kingdom’s security and prosperity. Russia has already poisoned people on British soil with chemical weapons. Caused energy bills to soar. Weaponised migration. And sent technology to Iran in exchange for weapons, like the Shaheed drones that I saw myself are wreaking such devastation on Ukraine. Iran themselves have threatened to kill and kidnap people within our borders for exercising their right to free speech. And used proxies like the Houthis, A clear plan
campaigns against British MPs. China itself is engaged in a huge military modernisation programme. Potential flashpoints in the Indo-Pacific could have an impact on the global economy far larger even than Covid. And China is increasingly working with others to try and reshape the world including their so-called ‘unlimited partnership’ with Russia. So the new assertiveness of these authoritarian states far from our shores must concern us. Because they are increasingly acting together against the fundamental values that we all hold dear of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law … I believe we must do more to defend our country, our interests, and our values. So today, I’m announcing the biggest strengthening of our national defence for a generation. We will increase defence spending to a new baseline of 2.5% of GDP [gross domestic product], by 2030. That starts today. And rises steadily in each and every year. Over the next six years, we’ll invest an additional £75bn in our defence. And it will be fully funded with no increase in borrowing or debt … We have a clear plan for what we’ll spend, when we’ll spend it, and how we pay for it. A plan that makes the United Kingdom by far the largest defence power in Europe – and second largest in NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] … We must support Ukraine for the long term. Since the Cold War ended, the freedom of our continent has been based on a simple idea:
Win there, and he – and indeed others – will be emboldened. He has the desire, if not yet the capacity, to attack other countries in Europe potentially including NATO allies, who we would be bound to defend just as they are bound to defend us. The costs of failing to support Ukraine now will be far greater than the costs of repelling Putin. Because only if he fails will he and other adversaries be deterred. That is why the United Kingdom whose history of standing up to dictators is so much part of our national consciousness has come together with our allies to stand with Ukraine from the very start. Today we will go further. We will send Ukraine an additional half a billion pounds, hitting £3 billion of support this year. And we’ll provide them with the largest-ever package of UK military equipment … A decade ago, as Russian tanks rolled into Crimea and the fight against ISIL raged across the Middle East, NATO allies came together in Wales, and reached an historic agreement to increase their defence budgets to 2% of GDP. Back then, the UK was one of only 4 countries who did so. Today, there are 11. And I believe we will look back on this moment as a similar turning point in European security. Because for all that we welcome the news over the weekend that the US Congress agreed a new package of aid for Ukraine support that will be indispensable on the frontline this is not the moment for complacency. We cannot keep expecting America to pay any price or bear any burden if we ourselves are unwilling to make greater sacrifices for our own security. So I’m proud that the United Kingdom is increasing our defence spending to £87bn a year, the biggest strengthening of our national defence in a generation guaranteeing our position as the second largest defence power in NATO, after the US. All across Europe, countries like Poland, Germany, Norway and the Baltic nations are stepping up to take greater responsibility for our own security. And I’m confident that whether in months or years, others will follow, too … Speech in Warsaw, Poland, 23 April 2024
to attack British ships in the Red Sea disrupting supplies of crucial goods to our high streets. North Korea, too, is supplying munitions and artillery to Russia and their hackers have targeted British businesses and the NHS [National Health Service]. And Chinese state-affiliated
That it is for people to decide the fate of their countries, not foreign armies. But allow Putin to win in Ukraine and that principle of sovereignty would be undermined. We would be dragged back to a world where brute force, rather than the democratic will of free peoples would shape borders and decide futures. And Putin will not stop in Ukraine.
actors have conducted malicious cyber
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2024 — G7 ITALY: THE APULIA SUMMIT
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