UK Military Chief Warns Defence Spending Increase Still Insufficient

The United Kingdom may struggle to meet its defence commitments despite a recent increase in military spending, the head of the armed forces has warned, raising concerns over a significant funding gap.

Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Richard Knighton told Parliament’s Defence Committee on Monday that the government’s decision to raise defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by 2027, up from 2.3% in 2024, remains inadequate. He said the funding uplift would not allow the Ministry of Defence to fully deliver its existing equipment programme while also supporting new investments outlined in last year’s defence review.

His remarks come just weeks after he informed Prime Minister Keir Starmer that the armed forces were preparing for potential spending cuts due to a multibillion-pound shortfall in the defence budget.

Knighton cautioned that without additional resources, the military would face difficult choices that could affect readiness, long-term planning, and the UK’s ability to meet international defence obligations. He stressed that maintaining current capabilities while investing in future defence priorities would be increasingly challenging under the present budget framework.