Sir Keir Starmer has warned that Britain “cannot ignore the threat Russia poses,” as he prepares to unveil new measures to put the country on war footing.
He will pledge to build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines and invest £15 billion in the nation’s warhead programme.
However, the PM has faced questions as the announcements come without further spending promises.
When asked if Britain would go to war with Russia if it invaded a Nato member such as Lithuania, he told BBC Radio 4: “I very much hope not, and in order to make sure that that isn’t the case, we need to prepare. But we cannot ignore the threat that Russia poses.”
Sir Keir Starmer has said he has an “ambition” to raise defence spending up to 3 per cent of GDP in the next parliament.
However, he has stopped short of making a firm commitment to achieve the goal.
The Prime Minister also told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We had a commitment for 2.5 per cent by the end of this Parliament. We pulled that right forward to 2027.
“We showed that when we say there’s a new era of the defence and security of our country, is our first priority – as it is – that we meant it. We take the same approach to 3 per cent.
“But I’m not going to indulge in the fantasy politics of simply plucking dates from the air until I’m absolutely clear that I can sit here in an interview with you and tell you exactly how that’s going to work, because I take the defence and security of our country extremely seriously.”
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