UK’s military needs to focus spending on domestic defence, not overseas missions – report

Exclusive: A new report from the Transition Security Project warns that the UK’s military is overly focused on global commitments, compromising domestic defence. The thinktank argues that the government’s planned increase in defence spending could lead to greater waste if not accompanied by a shift in priorities.

• The UK has the most overseas-oriented military among European nations, with nearly 25% of its defence budget allocated to commitments across five continents.
• The report describes this trend as a symptom of a "destructive, outdated foreign policy" that prioritizes overseas missions, often making the world less safe.
• The government aims to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035, as outlined in a defence investment plan (Dip) introduced in July during Keir Starmer’s premiership.