Prime Minister Johnson is set to announce a major increase in the UK’s defense budget on November 19, creating a new Air and Space Command, a National Cyber Force, and an Artificial Intelligence Agency, according to a November 18 announcement.
Johnson will unveil Britain’s “most significant armed forces investment plan since the end of the Cold War” to lawmakers in Parliament on Thursday, with funding of 16.5 billion pounds ($22 billion, 18.5 billion euros) to boost Britain’s defense capabilities over the next four years, according to a news release from AFP’s London station. This is in line with a Conservative campaign promise to increase defense spending by £24.1 billion over the next four years, on top of the £38 billion budgeted last year.
Downing Street’s office said the money would “strengthen Britain’s strong defense position in Europe and in NATO, making it Europe’s number one and NATO’s number two”. Before making the official announcement, Johnson said, “Britain has pulled this decision out of its teeth during this pandemic because defense must come first” and that “as the international situation becomes more treacherous and competitive for the first time since the end of the Cold War, Britain must Face up to history and stand with our allies.” Johnson added that “this new injection of defense funding will give the UK an opportunity to end the era of seclusion and will be used to upgrade the UK’s warfighting capabilities”.
With the uncertainty of the Brexit outcome and the imminent resumption of transatlantic relations, Downing Street pointed out that the new defense funding will focus on cutting-edge technologies, including cyber and air power, the creation of an artificial intelligence directorate, a national cyber force, and an air command with the expectation that the first new rocket will be launched in 2022. UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said that the defense injection will give the UK defense services a shot in the arm for modernization, looking to the future, “adapting itself to the threat,” and that “defense will be at the forefront of creating (at least 10,000) jobs, business opportunities, and helping Britons rebuild the economy after the epidemic. “.
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