The British head of the armed forces has warned that the military will have to reduce training and operations if greater funding is not provided. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Defence Staff, expressed concern about funding for day-to-day activities amid rising inflation during an appearance before the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee.
Resignations Over Funding Dispute
The warning comes after former Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces minister Al Carns resigned last week due to insufficient funding for the Defence Investment Plan (DIP). Healey criticized a Treasury proposal that would have increased defence spending to 2.68% of GDP by 2030, calling it well short of the required funding for the long-delayed DIP, which outlines spending on new military equipment and infrastructure over the next decade.
Impact on Operations
Sir Richard highlighted that rising costs, including an 88% increase in aviation fuel over the past year, have put pressure on training and operations. He told peers: "We will have to dial back our activities and our exercise and operational activity if the level of resource funding that's available to us does not increase." He added that the armed forces would prioritize changes around what the government cared about most, but it would be disingenuous to suggest there would be no impact.
Prime Minister's Response
Speaking at the G7 summit in Evian, France, Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended his record, stating that the government is increasing the defence budget from 2.3% to 2.6% of GDP. He said the DIP would provide the UK with future capability and that money has already been reallocated from other departments to defence. Starmer added that the new Defence Secretary, Dan Jarvis, is reviewing priorities for spending on capability.
