Key facts
- UK military spending is too focused on global commitments, neglecting domestic defense, according to a Transition Security Project report.
- The report claims Britain has the most overseas-oriented military in Europe, spending nearly a quarter of its budget on international missions.
- The UK government plans to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035.
- An estimated £14 billion, or 23% of the 2024/25 military budget, was spent on overseas commitments.
- The report urges a review of the UK's military posture, prioritizing domestic defense over global force projection.
A report by the Transition Security Project has warned that the UK's military is excessively focused on global commitments, potentially leading to increased waste as defense spending rises. The analysis suggests that Britain's military is more overseas-oriented than other European nations, with nearly a quarter of its budget allocated to international missions.
The report criticizes this focus as a symptom of an "outdated foreign policy" and argues that increased defense spending, committed to reach 3.5% of GDP by 2035, should instead prioritize domestic defense.
Using 2024/25 figures, the study estimated that approximately 23% of the military budget, or just over £14 billion, was spent on overseas commitments. This includes spending on "strategic hubs" outside Europe, such as bases in Cyprus, Kenya, and Oman, used for projecting UK military power.
The report questions the effectiveness of the current defense investment plan in reversing this trend and whether overseas missions have actually enhanced UK security. It highlights that since 2001, the UK has spent over £51 billion on military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and other regions.
Researchers Kevin Cashman and Khem Rogaly, co-authors of the report, urged the UK to avoid pouring more money into a military sector geared towards alignment with the US and its global military actions. They advocate for a shift in focus towards domestic defense and public investment in areas like health, housing, and climate change.