Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset has signed a cross-party pledge calling for increased defence spending.
The pledge, arranged by the Council on Geostrategy, calls on political parties to commit in their manifestos to increasing defence spending as a percentage of GDP, initially to 2.5% and then 3% by 2030.
Already signed by a number of MPs and peers from across all
Parties, the Pledge begins, “Britain is now facing its gravest threats since the end of the cold war. Russia has invaded Ukraine and threatened other democracies, interfering with elections and directing cyberattacks; it has even poisoned people in our cities. Putin will not relent; he sees Britain, perhaps more than any other country, as an absolute enemy. Meanwhile, extremists inspire terrorism in our islands and Houthi militants attack our shipping. Both Iran and North Korea are developing nuclear capabilities. And China is rearming at scale, threatening military conflict over Taiwan and the South China Sea, which would engulf the Indo-Pacific, if not the entire world.”
“This a matter over which I have long sounded the alarm,” says Drax, “Forty years ago, when I was in the Army, the country spent 5% GDP on defence. Now we meet our Nato obligation of 2% GDP but the truth is, that sum was agreed ten years ago and is looking woefully inadequate. It is no longer enough to protect our interests at home and abroad and the threat is very real.”
“As the pledge says, countries which wish us harm are growing stronger and more dangerous. We are becoming vulnerable, especially to modern technology, like drone swarms and cyberattacks. We must be able to deter our enemies while properly protecting our interests, which means stronger armed forces and enhanced cyber and space power.”
“I have not stopped calling for more defence spending since I was elected. We can no longer rely on a peaceful future so we must be prepared. This is a timely call for urgent action and I support it to the hilt.”