The British government unveiled the new defense strategy on Monday, which at its center puts a “stronger and more effective” NATO, as the country reinforces its nuclear deterrence, rebuilding stocks of ammunition and weapons and invests billions of pounds in technological methods.

Britain’s new defense strategy warns that the threats faced by the country today “are more serious and less predictable than any other period after the Cold War”. At the heart of the new doctrine is the clear shift from the long period of underlying and the “peace mentality” to a state of complete operational readiness, with the aim of the country being prepared for the challenges of an increasingly unstable and dangerous geopolitical environment. This framework is detailed in the 140 -page strategic document published on Monday.

Nuclear

The report recommends that Britain will launch discussions with the US and NATO on the “potential benefits and feasibility of the United Kingdom’s enhanced participation in NATO’s nuclear mission”. The government wishes to achieve this through its renewal of its existing nuclear deterrence, investing £ 15 billion ($ 20 billion) in its nuclear header program, and examining other means of preventing enemy nuclear weapons – which could include nuclear weapons.

The new defense strategy demonstrates the need for Britain to play a bigger role in nuclear deterrence, as the only European state that has assigned its nuclear capabilities to NATO’s defense – something France is not currently doing. The need for increased action on the British side lies, according to the report, in the “unprecedented challenge” facing the US, as they are confronted with two “almost equal” nuclear forces: Russia and China.

With the Trident program already absorbing much of the UK’s defense spending, this policy is expected to be expensive. In addition to investing in nuclear heads, Britain plans to build up to 12 new submarines.

Warnings for Russia and China

The United Kingdom is already under “daily attack” by threats ranging from espionage to cyber war and falsification of information, which affects both society and the economy, the report said.

The report warns that United States’ security priorities have been shifted from NATO-and therefore Europe-to the Indo-Pacific region and the American territory itself.

The authors of the report note that both Russia and China increase the number and types of nuclear weapons they have in their stocks and have deepen their relationship. They warn that there are constant reasons that may lead these two countries to alignment with Iran and North Korea, even if these relations are accompanied by mutual distrust.

Army, Navy

The report recommends that the British Army should have at least 73,000 professional soldiers, a number that should be increased to 100,000 when including the backers. When budgetary conditions allow, there should be a “slight increase” in the size of the regular army – which is already at the smallest level since the Napoleonic Wars – as well as an increase of 20% of active reserves.

Defense Minister John Hiley told the House of Commons on Monday that the aim is to increase the regular army to 76,000 points in the current parliamentary period, which ends in 2034. However, it is expected that there is a criticism that this increase is not provided in a short period of time.

The United Kingdom also presented plans for a “hybrid navy”, which will be strengthened beyond the submarines manufactured in the context of the AUKUS alliance with the US and Australia, by investment in autonomous vessels. Their main mission will be patrol to the North Atlantic.

Ammunition

The Kir Starmer government will invest £ 1.5 billion in the construction of six ammunition plants, with the aim of creating a steady missile production line, which can be rapidly increasing in times of need. This move is aimed at modernizing the country’s industrial base, creating new processes in manufacturing, as well as the accumulation of ammunition reserves, which have been exhausted after decades of subcutaneous and continuous missions to Ukraine.

At the same time, the government will market up to 7,000 large -scale missiles, after teachings from the Russian war in Ukraine, which has shown the strategic importance of deep impact weapons.

Artificial intelligence, drones

The United Kingdom will significantly boost its investment in cyber security and other advanced technologies, establishing a new cyber and electromagnetic command), with the aim of protecting military networks from tens of thousands of cyberattacks, and its military networks. At the same time, a new digital targeting system will be created that will allow the Armed Forces to detect and neutralize more precisely enemy goals.

The government has said that investing in artificial intelligence, software, flocks of land drones, and more conventional weapons systems, such as long -range weapons and anti -aircraft defense, would allow the British Army to multiply its deadly power by ten.

At a separate point, the report warns that developments in so -called “biological engineering” can have a huge impact, through the creation of new pathogens or other weapons of mass destruction, but without specifying what measures will be taken to deal with them.

Anti -aircraft defense

Although the report does not explicitly request the development of an “Iron Dome” defense system such as Israel, authors point out that the United Kingdom must improve its existing potential, for example by supplying more E-7 Wedgetail early aircraft. Officials explain that the aim is to create systems capable of threatening threats more effectively, utilizing existing technologies, rather than investing in brand new platforms.

Just a few weeks ago, security experts warned that Britain could not defend a possible ballistic missile attack, while government officials warned that an Iron Dome system would be extremely expensive. The report calls on the Ministry of Defense to draw up a roadmap for deeper interoperability with NATO allies, as well as to intend to interconnect digital and conventional military capabilities by July 2026.

Private investment

The report proposes the United Kingdom to develop a special strategy for the financial sector by March 2025, encouraging Venture Capital and private equity to invest more in the defense industry.

The government will also set up a UK Defense Innovation Unit with funding £ 400 million, with the aim of boosting and developing British Defense Businesses. At the same time, a new export office will be created to promote British technologies and weapons systems to allies.

Starmer: Government’s strategy is to equip the country for the following decades

From Glasgow, Scotland, Starmer presented his strategy to make Britain a “ready for battle” country and “equipped for the coming decades”.

“The threat we face today is more serious, more immediate and more unpredictable than ever after the Cold War,” he said. “We are facing a war in Europe, with new nuclear risks, with daily cyberattacks, with increased aggression of Russia in our waters, while also threatening (Russia) our airspace,” he said.

“When we are directly threatened by countries with advanced military forces, the most effective way to prevent them is to be ready and show them that we are ready to impose peace through power,” he added.

On Sunday, in an article on the tabloid The Sun he mentioned countries that are a threat to Russia, Iran and North Korea. He left China out as London has recently been trying to restore his relations with Beijing, which was stretched by previous, conservative governments.