Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Prisoners' Information Office: Four of his ribs were broken
Palestinian Prisoners' Information Office: Marwan al-Barghouti lost consciousness after a brutal assault by Israeli occupation soldiers
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip have not stopped, and just a short while ago, fishermen came under fire from boats
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces carry out a large explosion in the eastern neighborhood of the town of Mays al-Jabal in southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Israeli political leadership decides to open Rafah crossing “as planned” and transfer aid to Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media: Three Palestinians were killed after being targeted by Israeli drone fire in the al-Shujaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City
Nicolas Maduro: The Palestinian cause is the most sacred cause for humanity, and we propose sending teams of builders, farmers, and doctors to Gaza to help the people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: IOF infiltrate Khallet Wardeh towards the municipality in the town of Aita al-Shaab, south of Lebanon.
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh

With 'smallest land force', amid downsizing, UK to focus on technology

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Wall Street Journal
  • 18 Jul 2023 21:03
4 Min Read

Despite the raging war in Ukraine, the United Kingdom decides to downsize its military and create a better-equipped force that can quickly mobilize. 

  • x
  • UK planning to shrink army size
    British soldiers with NATO-led Resolute Support Mission forces arrive near the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, March 6, 2020. (AP)

The United Kingdom will reduce its army and attempt to establish a better-equipped force that it claims can be mobilized more rapidly, as the war rages on and prompts a reassessment of policy, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The new strategic plan released by the Ministry of Defense on Tuesday tries to address complaints of the British military, which critics say lacks operational equipment and ammunition at a critical time. 

Since the Cold War's conclusion, Britain's military has evolved from a predominantly European-based army to an imperial force participating in the war on Afghanistan and Iraq. Now it is attempting to help Ukraine with a much smaller budget. 

Read more: UK military still marred with misogyny, sexual abuse of women

Rather than beefing up its military, the United Kingdom stated that it will focus on acquiring technology "to ensure we have a force greater than the sum of our parts." The proposal calls for the formation of a rapid-deployment force capable of rushing to troublesome hot spots, as well as a program to ensure a more efficient armament procurement system. 

After transferring substantial portions of its arsenal to Ukraine, the government claimed that it will reallocate 2.5 billion pounds (about $3.2 billion) of its defense budget to rebuild munitions inventories.

Related News

UK military still marred with misogyny, sexual abuse of women

Despite the war in Europe, the UK has cut its number of troops in the army from 82,000 to 72,500, its smallest ground force since 1714. It is also moving forward with plans to replace its 227-strong fleet of aging Challenger tanks with 148 contemporary models. This comes as military authorities claim that Ukraine's struggle against Russia demonstrated that a smaller, better-equipped army can inflict huge casualties on a larger adversary.

The UK is among the most prominent NATO members in Europe and spends the most on defense and weapons to Ukraine.

The high cost of combat in Ukraine, which has exhausted massive stores of shells and armor throughout a protracted battle, has also prompted analysts and military experts to question Britain's decision to prioritize technology over scale. 

According to a UK Parliament's Defense Committee report this month, “The U.K. now maintains an extremely limited reserve of fighting equipment, including warships, modern armored vehicles or combat aircraft."

Military spending as a percentage of GDP in the United Kingdom has been cut in half since the mid-1980s, to roughly 2.2%. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently announced an increase in military spending of £5 billion over the next two years. This will mostly be used to upgrade nuclear defenses and replenish weapons given over to Ukraine.

The government began increasing defense expenditure in 2020, with the goal of reaching £50 billion for the first time in UK history this year, but most of the recent increase has been eaten away by inflation. Sunak claims that the United Kingdom aspires to spend 2.5% of GDP on defense, but only when economic conditions permit. With years of poor economic development forecast, the government will almost certainly have to slash other government programs.

The British leadership is also set to change as Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced this weekend that he would resign from his post later in 2023. Wallace has long been a supporter of increased military spending and has warned that lack of funds could mean a harsh struggle for the British military. 

Patrick Sanders, the chief general of the British Army, will stand down in 2024 after just two years in office, a shorter stay than many in the Army anticipated. Sanders recently remarked that Britain should not hide behind NATO allies, relying on them to cover gaps in its own military. Wallace has argued that Britain is not dodging its responsibilities, stating that the country requires a force that is properly prepared rather than just large in numbers.

  • United Kingdom
  • Britain
  • Ukraine
  • UK Military

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl

The Life of a No-Girl: The one verse Taylor Swift refuses to sing

  • Arts and Culture
  • 8 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
UK extends jet patrols over Poland as NATO builds ‘drone wall’
Politics

UK extends jet patrols over Poland as NATO builds ‘drone wall’

Thousands trapped in El Fasher siege on ‘edge of survival': Report
Politics

Thousands trapped in El-Fasher siege on ‘edge of survival': Report

Trump links aid to Milei’s midterm success, blackmailing Argentinians.
US & Canada

Trump 'extorts' Argentinians, links aid to Milei’s midterm success

Six foreigners barred as US polices speech on Charlie Kirk
Politics

6 foreigners' visas revoked as US polices speech on Charlie Kirk

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS