Truss calls for increase in defence spending
Foreign Secretary says country must prepare to ‘dig deep’ and 2pc of GDP should be minimum figure
LIZ TRUSS will today call for an increase in defence spending, saying a “generation of under investment” led to the invasion of Ukraine.
In what is billed by aides as a major foreign policy speech, the Foreign Secretary will say the traditional Nato target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence should be a minimum.
She will also underscore her support for Nato’s expansion by letting in Sweden and Finland, as well as vowing to “double down” on British military support for Ukraine.
“I want to live in a world where free nations are assertive and in the ascendant,” Ms Truss will say as she maps out her policy vision in the wake of the Russian invasion.
Moscow yesterday cut off gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria in an escalation of its conflict with the West over energy. Gazprom, the state-owned energy firm, said it would halt deliveries via the Yamal-europe pipeline after Warsaw refused to pay in roubles. Last night the Bulgarian economy minister said his country had also been cut off despite complying with Russia’s terms.
Ms Truss’s speech signals that she sides with Tory MPS and military chiefs pushing for more defence spending.
Earlier this year Jeremy Hunt, the former foreign secretary – who, like Ms Truss, is expected to run for the Tory leadership if it becomes vacant – called for defence spending of close to 4 per cent of GDP.
The Kremlin yesterday warned Britain that it could target diplomats returning to Kyiv if it continued to “provoke” Ukraine into striking targets in Russia.
James Heappey, the Armed Forces minister, earlier said it was “completely legitimate” for Ukrainian soldiers to launch attacks in Russia, even if they were carried out with weaponry provided by the UK.
Boris Johnson last night backed Mr Heappey’s comments, saying he did not want the crisis to escalate, but that Ukrainians had a right to defend themselves.
The Prime Minister also did not rule out a prisoner swap to free the Britons who had been captured by Russia, but said his government could not “preempt” any decisions made by Ukraine.
Ms Truss’s speech will promise renewed focus on three areas: stronger defence, boosting economic security and building stronger alliances. She will say: “If Putin succeeds there will be untold further misery across Europe and terrible consequences across the globe. We would never feel safe again.
“So we must be prepared for the long haul and double down on our support for Ukraine. Heavy weapons, tanks, aeroplanes – digging deep into our inventories, ramping up production.”
The UK spent about 2.3 per cent of GDP on defence last year, according to Nato figures. The Nato target is 2 per cent of GDP, which has not been hit by many member nations. Ms Truss will say that the 2 per cent level should be “a floor, not a ceiling”.
Senior Tories were pushing for defence spending increases in last month’s Spring Statement. However, Mr Johnson and Rishi Sunak stuck by their existing spending plans. A new defence spending battle looms ahead of the Budget this autumn.