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BREAKING
Political aide to the governor of Gilan Province in northern Iran: Air defenses in Rasht shot down a small hostile drone flying over the city
Israeli media: The presence of General Qaani at the “victory celebrations” in Tehran puts an end to the rumors and earlier reports claiming he had been assassinated
Israeli media: There is division within the US administration itself over the extent of what the strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities actually achieved
Israeli media: US intelligence also says Iran’s centrifuges remained largely intact
Israeli media: Netanyahu and Trump celebrated too soon, as US intelligence says Iran’s uranium stockpile was not damaged
Israeli Channel 13: The objectives set by Netanyahu for the operation against Iran have not been achieved
Early US intel assessment suggests strikes on Iran did not destroy nuclear sites, CNN reports, citing sources
Israeli media platform: An additional soldier has been confirmed killed in the serious incident in Gaza, who had previously been considered "missing" for some time
Pezeshkian: History will not forget how Iran’s enemies broke their pledges and agreements, resorting to aggression and invasion even during negotiations
Israeli media: Between 14 and 16 soldiers were injured in the incident, which reportedly involved two separate units at the brigade and division level

UK unveils £3 billion defense boost to counter Russian threat

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 2 Jun 2025 13:05
3 Min Read

Britain announces £3 billion in military spending, new arms factories, and long-range weapons to prepare for future conflict with Russia and secure NATO ties.

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  • Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference at Downing Street, London, April 11, 2025 (AP)
    Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference at Downing Street, London, April 11, 2025. (AP)

The United Kingdom has announced a sweeping £3 billion military investment aimed at revitalizing its defense industry and preparing the country for potential conflict with Russia.

Defense Secretary John Healey said the strategy, which includes building six new munitions factories and deploying long-range weapons, is part of Britain’s commitment to modernize its military capacity and deter external threats.

“This is part of our readiness to fight if required,” Healey said during the announcement.

“We are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer complimented the urgency in a column for The Sun, stressing that the UK must be ready “to fight and win.”

The defense overhaul will be formally detailed in a 130-page strategic review set to be published Monday. The government will spend £1.5 billion on improving military housing and another £1.5 billion on new “munitions and energetics factories,” which are expected to create 1,800 jobs nationwide.

The plan also includes the procurement of 7,000 domestically produced long-range weapons and renewed naval shipbuilding initiatives.

The strategy also reportedly involves discussions to acquire American fighter jets capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons, alongside proposals to develop advanced anti-missile defense systems.

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Russia seen as immediate and growing threat

The British defense strategy is being framed as a direct response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and mounting fears of future aggression from Moscow.

The review, prepared by a team led by former NATO Secretary-General George Robertson, describes Russia as an “immediate and pressing” threat. While China is acknowledged as a “sophisticated and persistent challenge,” the UK’s focus remains heavily centered on countering Russia’s military posture.

This comes amid rising calls across Europe for increased defense readiness.

The EU recently announced plans to unlock €800 billion in military spending, while NATO allies are considering raising their defense targets to 5% of GDP ahead of the alliance’s annual summit later this month.

NATO pressures allies to raise military budgets

Amid concerns from US President Donald Trump over NATO burden-sharing, Healey pledged that the UK will boost its defense spending to 3% of its GDP by 2034.

This target could add over £10 billion in annual military spending, reinforcing Britain’s standing within the alliance.

National security is central to our Plan for Change.
We will:

• Deliver the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War.

• Invest in better housing for military families.

• Create more skilled jobs in new weapons factories.

This is just the start.

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 1, 2025

Other proposals in the review include the creation of an underwater surveillance program to protect undersea infrastructure and the reintroduction of a volunteer Home Guard unit to defend critical sites like airports from drone and cyber threats.

  • Nato
  • Russia
  • UK military spending
  • war in Ukraine

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