British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Tuesday a record-breaking military aid package for Ukraine in the amount of 500 million British pounds (580 million euros), and also announced that Britain will gradually increase its defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030.
“Today I announced the largest strengthening of national defense in a generation,” Sunak said during a visit to Poland.
Aid to Ukraine will include 400 vehicles, 60 cutters and boats, 1,600 missiles and four million rounds of ammunition, as well as long-range Storm Shadow missiles.
By increasing defense spending from 2.3%, Britain’s defense spending will be among the highest among NATO countries after the United States, the British government said.
This means that Britain will spend £87bn (€101bn) on defense in 2030-31, an increase of £23bn (€27bn) on current levels.
Calls for an increase in the defense budget had also come from the ranks of Sunak’s Conservative Party, with some Tories even pushing for defense spending to be increased to 3% of GDP.
“In a world as dangerous as it has not been since the end of the Cold War, we cannot afford to be complacent,” Sunak told reporters in Warsaw.
“I believe we must do more to protect our country, our interests and our values,” the prime minister said, announcing “the biggest strengthening of national defense in a generation.”
“[Ukrainas] the president [Volodimirs] Zelensky thanked the Prime Minister for the UK’s continued support, saying the new military aid would be of vital help to ordinary Ukrainians fighting on the front lines to defend their country,” Downing Street said.
However, Downing Street did not say whether aid would be delivered immediately.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Photo: HENRY NICHOLLS/POOL/AFP
