We hear a lot these days about modern warfare no longer being fought on the proverbial battleground. Try telling that to the Ukrainians. However I digress.
As a % of our GDP, defence spending has been decreasing since the 60s (source: SIPRI).
Troop numbers (UK Army) to be reduced to 72.5k (source: UK Parliament).
My question is this. Given we are no longer within the EU and, given recent events, is it time for a major rethink of our existing defence policy? And if you think 'yes', in what way? Should our GDP spend be increased? Should we be increasing not decreasing troop numbers? Should we be investing in more hardware across our forces e.g. aircraft carriers, aircraft, tanks, artillery? Do we need more than 4 nuclear submarines?
In short, whilst we would hope much of this would be there in the form of a deterrent (i.e. not used in anger) does our current policy and strategy leave us exposed as a nation should we ever be threatened with attack in a more traditional manner i.e. not cyber.
As a % of our GDP, defence spending has been decreasing since the 60s (source: SIPRI).
Troop numbers (UK Army) to be reduced to 72.5k (source: UK Parliament).
My question is this. Given we are no longer within the EU and, given recent events, is it time for a major rethink of our existing defence policy? And if you think 'yes', in what way? Should our GDP spend be increased? Should we be increasing not decreasing troop numbers? Should we be investing in more hardware across our forces e.g. aircraft carriers, aircraft, tanks, artillery? Do we need more than 4 nuclear submarines?
In short, whilst we would hope much of this would be there in the form of a deterrent (i.e. not used in anger) does our current policy and strategy leave us exposed as a nation should we ever be threatened with attack in a more traditional manner i.e. not cyber.