UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently made headlines with his announcement to significantly increase defense spending in the UK. Sunak revealed plans to raise defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade, marking what he called the “biggest strengthening of our national defense for a generation.”
As part of this commitment, Sunak pledged to send arms worth 500 million pounds to Ukraine, including Storm Shadow long-range missiles. The Prime Minister also promised an additional 75 billion pounds in defense spending over the next six years, reiterating a target set by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2022.
Sunak’s move comes in line with a commitment made by NATO leaders a decade ago to dedicate 2% of GDP to defense spending. The Prime Minister vowed to put the UK’s defense industry on a “war footing” and increase stockpiles of munitions to support the effort.
In a show of solidarity, Sunak announced plans to deploy Typhoon fighter jets to Poland to help police its skies. He also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to confirm new assistance and express support for Ukraine’s defense.
The announcement of aid to Ukraine comes as the US House of Representatives approved $61 billion in new aid for the country. Ammunition shortages in Ukraine have been a concern, with reports indicating that Russian advances in eastern regions have been fueled by these shortages.
For more updates on the war in Ukraine, follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. Stay tuned for further developments as the situation unfolds.
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