US tells Sunak to increase defence spending

PM urged to bolster Armed Forces to counter new Russia threats and ongoing crisis in Middle East

BRITAIN should consider boosting the size of its Armed Forces in response to threats from Russia and the crisis in the Middle East, one of Joe Biden’s defence ministers has said.

Carlos Del Toro, the US navy secretary, said “given the threats that exist today” the UK should “reassess” the size of its military, in a rare direct criticism of British defence policy. In a question-and-answer session at the US Embassy in London yesterday, Mr Del Toro said the US was grateful for ongoing co-operation with the UK, including on recent air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. He also welcomed the Royal Navy’s “increased presence” in the Indian and Pacific oceans, and the UK’S involvement in the AUKUS submarine partnership with Australia.

However, asked about the size of the UK’S armed forces, Mr Del Toro suggested that Rishi Sunak should consider increasing spending on defence to counter new threats and the prospect of ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

“I think it’s important for the United Kingdom to reassess where they are today, given the threats that exist today,” he said, adding that Britain should make a “decision around whether the army needs to be strengthened”.

The Government has faced persistent calls to reverse a planned cut to troop numbers, which will bring the total headcount from 82,000 to 73,000 by 2025 – its smallest size since the Napoleonic era. The Royal Navy has been forced to retire two frigates, HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll, because of a shortage of sailors.

Mr Del Toro’s comments, first reported by The Guardian, come after Gen Patrick Sanders, the head of the British Army, suggested citizens could face being called up to fight if there was a conflict with Russia, given low troop numbers. Gen Sanders said a land war would be a “whole-of-nation” undertaking, and called for the Army to increase from 75,000 troops to 120,000 within the next three years.

“But this is not enough,” he said during a speech at the International Armoured Vehicles conference. “Taking preparatory steps to enable placing our societies on a war footing when needed are now not merely desirable but essential.”

His comments forced Downing Street to clarify that the Government is not planning to introduce conscription.

It coincided with the news that the Government believes there is a one-in-four chance Russia will attack an ally of the UK before 2025.

Cabinet Office experts have drawn up a national risk register that analyses the biggest threats facing the UK in the next two years. It ranks the likelihood of a Russian attack on a non-nato ally, with which Britain has a mutual security pact, at more than 25 per cent. Officials said that in such a scenario, “to contain and deter further aggression, military, diplomatic and economic capabilities will be needed”.

Mr Del Toro is not the first US official to complain about Nato allies’ defence spending. The US has consistently called for other countries to reach a spending target of 2 per cent of GDP. Mr Sunak has announced plans to increase UK defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, but has not set a timeframe.

Last year’s Spring Budget allocated an extra £5billion to the Ministry of Defence, on top of a four-year funding settlement agreed in 2020.

A White Paper published last year said ministers noted “the growing importance of deterrence and defence to keep the British people safe and our alliances strong”, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, defended troop cuts earlier this month, arguing additional funds would be spent on new technology.