The trouble is, it is not like you or I deciding to sped a few more quid on a car. We could do that tomorrow in regards cars, houses etc. - We are talking about warships, staff, training, etc. It takes years to design, build and staff these things
Maybe we should join that EU Army after all.......;-)
I've no idea as its nonsense although i fear what our spending and armed forces would be reduced to under a Labour government led by Corbyn.
That isn't whataboutery either, its a genuine concern given his well known stance.
The UK has to plan for the future and spend accordingly to meet threats and be able to react.
The 2 carriers once fully commissioned and equipped with jets will be a huge boost but for carriers to be effective, they need the support ships and im not just talking the Merchant navy in tow either.
Completely agree that its a decision taken now for the future but its one that needs to be taken.
Do we want a fully capable, independent force that not only is able to defend but project power throughout the world as and when needed or do we save the money, go small and be defensive only or as you say, merge?
Either way they need to make their minds up and not be half arsed about it either.
I think merging has many challenges including standards, culture, language, equipment etc. so that wouldn't be my ideal scenario, not yet at least. We need to get our own house in order
All that said, Iran have a Dutch vessel, with no goods on it(I believe) and not a UK citizen among the 'hostages'. We still have clout, this is Iran acting the goat. But it could be the thin end of the wedge unless the UK Government address funding. But where is that money going to come from?
Present % of GDP spent on defence is 1.98%, labours 2017 manifesto commited to 2% works out about 37 billion promised if elected
Completely agree that its a decision taken now for the future but its one that needs to be taken.
Do we want a fully capable, independent force that not only is able to defend but project power throughout the world as and when needed or do we save the money, go small and be defensive only or as you say, merge?
Either way they need to make their minds up and not be half arsed about it either.
Agreed. Arguably the decision has been made given the systematic reduction in conventional capabilities over the decades but we have not being honest about it in terms of public debate. This debate, like so many others, needs to be had.
The other way to achieve 2% is to spend the same and reduce our GDP such that it's 2% of a smaller number. The Tories seems to be going for this plan through Brexit.Present % of GDP spent on defence is 1.98%, labours 2017 manifesto commited to 2% works out about 37 billion promised if elected
Manifesto promises and whats delivered are often different so the proof of the pudding would be in the eating.
Corbyns attitude to foreign policy would suggest to me that our defence forces would be just that, defensive and scaled right back and thats before we mention that our nuclear capability would be binned under him.
The rights and wrongs of that are another argument again ;-)
Politicians.....honesty......really? ;-)
Corbyns policy would be about defence, but protecting our overseas assets comes under defence.
I agreee I wouldn't think you would see him engage in overseas action on foriegn soil, but a PM duty os to protect British interest whetger on the mainland or overseas.
And besides he is a raving marxist after all and marxism encourages armed revolution, so unless in reality he is a wet lettuce pacifist normal lefty not a far left loon we should be expecting no issues with the 2% commitment ;-)
Until the one time it happens even though everyone knew what would happen.Either way we need it imo as the Cuban missile crisis apart, the threat of mutual destruction no matter how unpalatable has imo kept the peace as everyone knows what would happen.
Welcome to “America First” and Trump’s special relationships in the Middle East! At least, that’s what Jared told him!!Seems the Americans aren't willing to help on the waves but they will expect our boots on the ground if they decide to go military - special relationship my fucking arse.
So we pander to the US and pompero cuts us off in an instant, our leaders are so think that they cannot see the present US administration couldn't give two fucks about us.
We need to get back on board with the european and world opinion, not trumps bullshit
I spent many many hours patrolling the straits of Hormuz in my time on nimrods. If we had any real maritime patrol assets now this wouldn’t have happened. Cameron was a **** for allowing the gap in capability and now the uk looks fucking toothless.
Heartbreaking act of vandalism seeing the new ones bulldozed. Has doing that, losing the capability for a decade and buying the p8 really saved any money?I spent many many hours patrolling the straits of Hormuz in my time on nimrods. If we had any real maritime patrol assets now this wouldn’t have happened. Cameron was a **** for allowing the gap in capability and now the uk looks fucking toothless.