U.K. lays out future defence plan with technology focus, fight over money – National– globalnews.ca

Self-flying fighter jets, uncrewed submarines and drones will be at the center of Britain’s future military under a defence plan announced Tuesday that reflects a world of conflicts transformed by technology.

Like other NATO countries, the U.K. is under pressure to increase defence spending to counter a more aggressive Russia and less reliable United States. But its Defense Investment Plan has been repeatedly delayed as military leaders and Treasury officials wrangled over the cost, and critics said its pledge of a 15 billion pound ($20 billion) boost to defence spending won’t be enough.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the plan will keep Britain safe in “a more dangerous and volatile world than at any time for decades.”