The British government has decided to increase military spending by around £ 16,5 billion over the next four years. "The largest British defense investment program since the end of the Cold War," as it was called, a few weeks ago, by Downing Street in an official statement.
With this ambitious military-strategic plan, the United Kingdom sets itself the objective of affirming and consolidating its position "the largest investor in the defense sector at European level, the second largest in NATO"1.
These major interventions will lead (according to the government) to the creation of around 10,000 jobs in the coming years; in addition to this, a new agency dedicated to "artificial intelligence" (National Cyber Force) will be established, and the introduction of a space command capable of launching the first British rocket into space by 2022. In addition, they will be allocated about 1,5 billion pounds in the design of the Future Combat Air System, "a military aviation development system that will also have an effect on civil aviation applications"2.
Ben Wallace, the British Minister of Defense, said regarding these projects: “This is great news for defense, giving us the economic certainty we need to modernize, plan for the future and adapt to the threats we face. This agreement guarantees jobs and livelihoods in the UK and allows us to invest in our large shipyards and aerospace industry, spreading prosperity to every corner of the UK ".
The minister's statements are indicative. Investing in the defense sector is not an end in itself, but it is innovation, development, research and work. It is what distinguishes a nation with a strategic vision from those nations that do not.
1https://www.ilsussidiario.net/news/boris-johnson-185-miliardi-spese-mili...
2https://www.startmag.it/mondo/regno-unito-perche-per-johnson-il-miglior-...
Photo: Mod UK
