UK lags behind as Putin and allies crank up defence spending by 50%
EMBARGO: Immediate Release
- House of Commons research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats reveals Russia, Iran and China have boosted defence expenditure by an average of 50% since 2014 - over three times the performance of the UK
- The party is calling urgently on the Government to set out their pathway to 2.5% defence spending before Donald Trump’s inauguration
Russia, Iran and China have all increased their defence budgets by over 50% since 2014 - with the UK’s defence spending growing at just 14%.
The statistics, drawn from House of Commons Library research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, reveal that Russia, Iran and China have ramped up defence spending by a staggering 34%, 57% and 60% respectively since 2014. That’s an overall average increase of over 50% since 2014.
The biggest jump in each case came between 2021 and 2022, coinciding with the start of the war in Ukraine.
In that time, the UK has expanded its defence budget by 14% - in effect just a third of the average increase of adversarial nations.
Last year, Putin’s backers spent a combined 318 billion dollars on defence in cash terms. Russia itself spent $109bn - 5.9% of GDP and a number exactly matched by the Chinese defence budget. That $109bn figure outstrips UK defence spending by $35bn.
The UK Government has committed to setting out a pathway to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence. The Liberal Democrats are now urging Ministers to set out these plans before the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20th.
Helen Maguire MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Defence, said:
“With war waging on our continent, hostile states increasing their defence spending and an unreliable partner elected across the Atlantic, it is vitally important for Britain’s defences to be strengthened.
“The previous Conservative Government neglected our armed forces and left our Army at its smallest size since the era of Napoleon.
“The new Government must set out the pathway to 2.5% of defence spending, and they should do so prior to Donald Trump’s inauguration on 20 January. It’s time for the UK to lead in Europe when it comes to the defence of our continent.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
Please find House of Commons Library data here.
First reported in The Telegraph.