{"id":134762,"date":"2023-11-05T17:29:30","date_gmt":"2023-11-05T17:29:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/?p=134762"},"modified":"2023-11-05T17:29:30","modified_gmt":"2023-11-05T17:29:30","slug":"epoch-defining-challenges-mean-britain-must-boost-defence-spending","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/politics\/epoch-defining-challenges-mean-britain-must-boost-defence-spending\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Epoch-defining challenges mean Britain must boost defence spending’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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With two wars now raging in the northern hemisphere, Britain must increase military spending to keep pace with “epoch-defining challenges”, the chairman of Parliament\u2019s defence committee has warned.<\/p>\n

Robert Courts was speaking as Israel announced it had completely encircled Gaza City as it seeks to root out Hamas gunmen in the wake of the terror attacks of October 7.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the fighting continues unabated in Ukraine, with recently obtained satellite images suggesting Vladimir Putin has ordered Russia to ramp up the production of weapons.<\/p>\n

Further afield, China has made no secret of its antipathy towards Taiwan\u2019s democratic regime, or its desire to seize control of the island in accordance with its \u201cone China\u201d doctrine.<\/p>\n

Mr Courts told Express.co.uk: \u201cThere’s no two ways about it. We are in the most challenging times we have seen as a country since World War 2.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Labour revolt as one in five poised to quit over Starmer’s Gaza stance[INSIGHT] <\/strong><\/p>\n

Robert Courts speaks on the war in Ukraine<\/h3>\n

\u201cWe’ve seen the return of industrial, mechanised warfare on the continent of Europe, something that many people thought was left behind forever.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that makes clear that we are going to have to spend more on defence. The reality is that we just don’t have sufficient mass to face the challenges that we have.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe face the very real prospect of peer conflict, we have real epoch-defining challenges in the face of China and Russia, and to meet those, we are going to have to spend more.\u201d<\/p>\n

The amount the nation should spend should be governed by the challenge faced rather than simply an \u201carbitrary figure\u201d, Mr Courts stressed.<\/p>\n

However, referring to the percentage of GDP the government allocates to defence spending, currently set at two percent, he added: \u201cNonetheless, we should be moving towards three percent in any event.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, the Government has recognised this and has said that they will look to move towards 2.5 percent when circumstances allow.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that to me seems to put the cart before the horse. The first duty of government is to defend its people, the first duty of any government is defence.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s defence, that guarantees our security and our prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued: \u201cFor example, the Navy protects our sea lanes, which means it protects our trade, which means it protects our prosperity.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don’t have a navy of sufficient size, then you are taking risks with your prosperity.<\/p>\n