NATO’s ‘total strategic shift’ discussed by General Richard Shirreff
The news comes as NATO member leaders meet in Madrid to discuss the current global world order in light of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has announced that the alliance will increase its military personnel in Eastern Europe to 300,000 as fears increase that the conflict could spill over to NATO member states.
NATO members are generally required to contribute two percent of their GDP to the alliance, but recent figures released show that less than one-third of nations meet the minimum requirements.
Although Britain does meet the threshold, with figures showing the budget for 2022 at 2.12 percent of GDP, it appears that the UK’s contribution to the alliance has declined recently.
The latest figure shows that the UK remains above France and Germany, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced an increase from € 70 billion to € 80 billion (£ 60 billion – £ 69 billion) that will put Germany ahead of the UK as the largest contributor, unless France increases its budget as well.
Speaking of the potential change, Defense Editor at Economist Shashank Joshi said on Twitter: “Seismic moment for Europe as Germany originates the UK and France as Europe’s largest defense spender.”
Britain could move behind France and Germany in military spending (Image: Getty)
NATO member leaders meet in Madrid to discuss world events and security (Image: Getty)
Defense Minister Ben Wallace allegedly wrote to the prime minister asking for an extra £ 10 billion a year for defense spending in a leaked report.
Speaking on Sky News today, Mr Wallace said: “If Britain wants to retain this leadership role after 2024, we will probably need to see greater investment.”
After his Sky interview, Mr. Wallace went to LBC where he said: “I always said as the threat increases, so should spending.
“Britain has led the way in complying with the two percent figures, there are still many countries below the figure.
“But since the Russian war in Ukraine, the threat is likely to increase by the end of the decade.
“We are now at the right figure, but as defense secretary I would not have done my job if I had not said an increase should be done in 2024.”
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Jens Stoltenberg said an extra 300,000 troops would be deployed to Eastern Europe (Image: Getty)
Olaf Scholz wants to become Europe’s biggest defender (Image: Getty)
He continued: “Inflation is up to 10 percent, and we have to deal with the sample of inflation, and we have to be careful about this.
“I agree there is a reality test when it comes to inflation, but there is a reality test with Russia in 2024, and we need to be aware of that.”
Yet it seems that the Prime Minister is resisting the pressure from the Minister and the head of the army to bow before the budget increase.
Reports from Downing Street indicate that officials were furious about the timing of the claim before the NATO summit, and without the approval of the treasury.
Mr Wallace addressed the issue and suggested that on LBC it was just right for Mr Wallace. Johnson to announce any news at the Madrid summit, and not by a leak.
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Ben Wallace warns inflation is also a threat to defense spending (Image: Getty)
On the need to maintain the alliance in the light of current world events, Mr Johnson said: “The NATO alliance keeps our people safe every day.
“But over the next 10 years, the threats around us will only grow.
“We need allies – all allies – to dig deep to restore deterrence and ensure defense in the decade ahead.
“The two percent was always meant to be a floor, not a ceiling and allies must continue to act in this time of crisis.”
Yet it seems that the figures for Britain are declining when it comes to contributions.
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MP Tobias Ellwood says defense spending must match current threats (Image: Getty)
On Twitter, Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood said he believed the UK would fall to exactly two percent of GDP by the year 2024.
Mr Ellwood wrote: “Our defense spending must match security threats.
“But NATO’s calculations show Britain’s percentage of GDP spending declining.”
Mr Wallace concluded by saying: “It does not matter what rank you have in NATO spending, what matters is how you defend the country.”
The biggest contributor remains Greece at 3.76 percent, with the United States just behind at 3.47 percent.
For more stories like this, follow Defense and Security Correspondent James Lee on Twitter @JamesLee_DE