Should the UK increase Military Spending?

Hi

There are demands for the UK to increase Military spending by £20 Billion a year.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44609494

Why do we have to be a Tier 1 Military Power?

The argument is that we need to project our influence across the World.

We currently rank number six in the World, behind the USA, China, Russia, India and France.

What do you think?

Re: Should the UK increase Military Spending?

I don't think we should increase it Swims we really don't need to be a world power besides conventional arms is not how wars will be fought in the future it will be cyber attacks not guns and tanks. Better to spend on our own infra structure than try to compete in the arms race.

Re: Should the UK increase Military Spending?

I think we need to be able to defend ourselves but to say we have to project our influence around the world is, frankly, just political hubris. My feeling is that we have to spend the existing budget smarter and, as Summer says, in new ways to combat the new types of threat.

Re: Should the UK increase Military Spending?

Australia are reportedly buying drones to keep an eye on China. Thought satellites did that? Must have the latest technology at any cost, political posturing again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44609494

Re: Should the UK increase Military Spending?

India in top six? Do we still give foreign aid to India?

Re: Should the UK increase Military Spending?

if they increased military understanding it might help a bit?

Re: Should the UK increase Military Spending?

I think you will find that the drones are to keep an eye on the South China Sea. (Probably while we wait in excited anticipation for Boris Johnson's aircraft carrier to be fitted with planes and appear over the horizon)

Re: Should the UK increase Military Spending?

It won't get there because the escort vessels cannot operate in warm seas.

Re: Should the UK increase Military Spending?

So we rank behind France?

Yet we pay a higher %age of GDP on defence than France and most other NATO countries (except the US)?

The question remains, if we pay such amounts compared to France, why do they rank above us?

I wonder whether that might suggest that we spend on the wrong sort of things. I remember hearing such things as our having more admirals than ships! Perhaps we waste far too much of our defence spending on unnecessary things such as administration?

Re: Should the UK increase Military Spending?

I can't see the point of buying an expensive aircraft carrier when we don't have the planes to put on it. I did see someone managed to land a drone on it, so there is some hope.