Thinktank Report Urges Shift in UK Defence Spending Toward Domestic Security

A report from the Transition Security Project has challenged the United Kingdom’s current military strategy, arguing that the government’s focus on global commitments comes at the expense of domestic defence. According to the research centre, the UK maintains the most overseas-oriented military among European nations, with nearly a quarter of its defence budget dedicated to commitments across five continents.

The findings suggest that the planned increase in defence spending—which aims to reach 3.5% of GDP by 2035—could result in further financial waste if not accompanied by a change in policy. The government’s defence investment plan (Dip), unveiled in July, includes a projection that would double the defence budget from £70bn in 2026 to £151bn in 2035.

Researchers estimated that approximately 23% of the 2024/25 military budget, totaling over £14bn, was allocated to overseas commitments. This includes roughly £2.8bn spent outside Europe on facilities in locations such as Cyprus, Kenya, and Oman, which serve as strategic hubs for projecting power. The report characterizes this posture as a symptom of an "outdated foreign policy" and asserts that the UK has spent more than £51bn on military interventions in regions like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya since 2001.

"Britain should end its support for these attempts at global policing," said Khem Rogaly, co-director of the Transition Security Project and co-author of the report. "Instead, it should focus its military resources on defence and its public investment on health, housing and the climate emergency."

Kevin Cashman, a co-author of the study, criticized the alignment with United States military initiatives, suggesting that these deployments contribute to rising costs. The report urges the government to review its military stance to prioritize domestic protection over global force projection. While defence officials have acknowledged the importance of avoiding waste and expressed a desire to prepare the country for a potential conflict in Europe, the report suggests the current defence investment plan remains committed to ongoing global engagements.