UK's military needs to focus spending on domestic defense, not overseas missions
Exclusive: Thinktank says Britain’s drive towards global commitments is symptom of ‘outdated foreign policy’
TL;DR
- A thinktank report by the Transition Security Project states the UK military is too focused on global commitments, leading to waste.
- Nearly a quarter of the UK's defense budget is spent on overseas commitments across five continents.
- This focus is described as a symptom of a 'destructive, outdated foreign policy' that may not be making the globe safer.
- The government's planned increase in defense spending should be accompanied by a greater focus on domestic defense.
- Since 2001, the UK has spent over £51 billion on military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and elsewhere.
- The report suggests Britain should prioritize domestic defense over the global projection of military force.