Hollowed-out Armed Forces are no deterrent

SIR – Vice-admiral John Mcanally (Letters, December 2) is right to call for the defence budget to be raised to 3 per cent of GDP, as recommended by the chairman of the House of Commons Defence Committee.

As Britain leaves the EU and reforges its global trading links, where is the strategic vision necessary to underpin this role? What are the implications for Britain’s foreign policy and defence capabilities in 2025, 2030 and beyond?

With the country facing mounting and diverse threats, our increasingly hollowed-out Armed Forces will be unable to provide a credible deterrent. Perceived weakness is a great provocation to any potential aggressor. Soft power is no substitute for naval and military capability. Philip Davies

London NW11

SIR – In the early Sixties, when I was serving on a Vulcan squadron during the Cuban Missile Crisis, following several days of sitting at cockpit readiness, we were all relaxing in the squadron crew room discussing events. The subject turned to enemies, and we wondered who, over the years, had been the RAF’S most dangerous enemy. The unanimous verdict was the Treasury.

It seems nothing much has changed. Wg Cdr PJ West (retd)

Melmerby, North Yorkshire