Should UK defence spending increase?

Public debate on UK defence spending intensifies amid global tensions including Ukraine, the Middle East, and threats from Russia, China, and Iran. The UK currently spends around 2.3% of GDP on defence, below the NATO 2% target for much of the past decade, with plans to reach 2.5% by 2027/2028 and ambitions for 3% or higher later. Former defence secretaries, military leaders, and analysts urge faster and larger increases to address readiness gaps in army size, naval fleets, and procurement inefficiencies, while critics highlight past cuts and question efficiency without reform.