Defence Secretary John Healey has warned Parliament of a growing threat from Russia that extends beyond Ukraine, raising concerns for NATO and global security.
In an address to the House of Commons on 10 September 2024, Healey provided an update on the war in Ukraine, while highlighting increasing Russian aggression across Europe.
“We’re seeing clear signs of Russia stepping up its actions beyond Ukraine,” Healey told MPs. “NATO allies are already reporting Russian drones violating their airspace… Putin is going after our security and our way of life.” The Defence Secretary pointed to recent intelligence reports from the UK and US, which revealed Russia is conducting a “reckless campaign of sabotage across Europe.”
With the conflict now in its 930th day, Healey made it clear that NATO must be central to the UK’s defence policy, stating, “Our approach will be NATO first.”
Discussing Ukraine’s recent military gains, Healey spoke of Ukrainian forces launching their offensive in the Kursk region of Russia in early August, taking control of around 900 square kilometres of territory. “The longer Ukraine holds Kursk, the weaker Putin becomes,” he said, explaining that these gains have also helped to push back Russian launch sites for attacks on Ukraine.
While acknowledging Ukraine’s recent successes, Healey was candid about the challenges ahead. “Russia is still outgunning Ukraine on the battlefield, with their artillery firing three times more than Ukraine’s,” he said, noting that Russia has also conscripted or recruited 400,000 more soldiers this year.
Healey detailed the rising intensity of Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine, with President Zelenskyy reporting that 4,000 missiles and drones have targeted Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure in just the last month. “More than half of Ukraine’s power generation capacity has been destroyed or captured by Russia,” Healey warned, as the country prepares for winter.
The Defence Secretary also outlined the UK’s recent efforts to bolster Ukraine’s defence, including a £160 million contract for air defence missiles and continued training for Ukrainian troops through Operation Interflex. The UK has also pledged £3 billion in military support annually, for as long as the war continues.
“This support gives Ukraine the confidence to keep fighting and shows Putin we won’t back down,” Healey said.
He closed by reminding MPs of the global stakes, quoting US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin: “If Ukraine is not free, the world is not safe.”
Here we go again. Russia is losing and can’t defend itself. Russia can’t beat a third world corrupt dump on its border. Russia is a gas station larping as a country. Russia will fall apart. Russia is bankrupt. Russia is controlling our elections. Russia are the greatest hackers ever. Everyone I disagree with is a Russian bot. The Russians are going to invade Poland. The Russians will take the Baltics. Russia is an existential threat to Western Europe.
What defence firm is he planning to work for and how much do they want for whatever they are hawking?
So there will be no defence cuts Mr. Healey? I look forward to Labour increases and taking us to a minmum of 2.5 per cent. Right, I’m off now for my medication…🤓
Everyone serious says we need to spend more.
Even Starmer has stated the 2.5% – trouble is that is not enough to backfill the decades of under spending on infrastructure and munitions stockpiles and pushing projects constantly to the right.
We are lucky that we have spent, just enough, on R&D.
No argumnent S.B. Thirty years of dawdling , penny pinhing and waste. Healey says he ‘s concerned about Russia. I just hope that’s not early short hand for pull back to Europe. Because there is a lot more danger out in the world than Russia.
Mind you a Russian focus means RN back to ASW and High North which needs the same assets as AUKUS anyway.
I’m not sure on the level of UK imports and where they all come from but there’s the simultaneous need to keep the Suez and Gulf area open to international trade, fuel supplies, and all shipping movements and access to from Indo Pacific and SE Asia.
And the ramifications now of how an Erdogan’s proposed “Islamic Alliance” (primarily against Israel) from Turkey, Syria, Egypt and others in Africa would play out along with Russia, China and Iran in the Middle East neighbourhood. Plus further East and the SCS.
And will the CSG 2025 go through the Suez?
You’re right but do we want to be a European Power or a Global Power? In some ways I don’t mind which, although I favour the latter. I just want our people to have the best kit we can give them to do their job.
I wonder how Healey will reconcile this analysis of the threat with his apparent willingness to have the MOD make its contribution to tackling the ” black hole” in the public finances.
Whilst the reported defence equipment 10 year shortfall isn’t real, it is obvious that funds are tight. There is very little left to cut that would make a material difference to the budget. A lot of new equipment is both funded and contracted ( T26 +31, FSS, Ch3, Boxer, Ajax, SPG replacement.
If reductions are deemed necessary, they are likely to fall on uncommitted projects that aren’t multi national-MROS, MRSS, NMH, F35 numbers.
There is very little room for manouevre. But any cuts, at the same time as other NATO allies- Poland, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands for example- are increasing their budgets, would look almost perverse.
‘almost’?
I have no doubt that the black hole in funding the 10-year MoD Equipment Plan (short by £17bn, as stated) is very real. Even worse is that we need more than an extra £17bn over 10 years to fund all future equipment required by the armed forces as the Army (uniquely of the three services) do not put anything in the EP unless it is funded therefore army unfunded aspirations are additional to the £17bn.
Why do you not think this is real?
Not all of the required Boxers are both funded and contracted for. Only 623 have been contracted for, which is about half the army requirement.It was said that under the previous administrtion that a further c.400 had funding ring-fenced, but I’m not sure if this regime will honour that ‘pledge’. Then there are the balance of the Boxers that have not even had funds ring-fenced.
Is SPG (Boxer RCH-155) funded and contracted? What has been announced is simply an intention for UK and Germany to further develop the protoypes – an inter-governmental (political) agreement between Starmer and the German Chancellor. If funding has been agreed, how much is it for and how many are we buying? If they are contracted, when was the contract awarded and to which company?
Good questions Graham, let’s hope you and we get some answers to all the above! If a potential war is brewing reducing strength and key acquisitions now is just plain nuts. They need to exercise some smarts. Less speeches, less photo shoots and consult the “ukdj” more often…lol…what do you reckon?
‘NATO first’ has been the basic approach for decades. I have a worrying suspicion that this man has no intention of taking on the Treasury to get a proper funding settlement and is actually meaning ‘NATO only’- which would be fine if we didn’t have fairly substantial ‘out of area’ interests.
BOOOOM. I have been warning of my fears on this since the guy was still Shadow DS.
NATO “first” is utter cobblers, as you say, we have prioritised NATO for decades.
I’m not feeling optimistic despite the Labour supporting more sensible heads here telling me all will be well.
It is just word salad TBH.
Make a statement containing a core phrase that nobody can argue with.
Typical policy vacuum stuff.
Healey is ‘rolling the pitch’ for an abandonment or watering down of activity that could be categorised as ‘Out of Area/Global Britain/Asia-Pacific tilt’….except for AUKUS and Ukraine support of course (unless that is conveniently in the basket marked ‘NATO’). Despite this I think CSG25 will go ahead – Healey’s little ‘victory’?
This stuff is above and beyond Healey’s domain – this is grand strategic politics exercised by Starmer, Reeves and Lammy.
Reeves I know little of. I’m embarrassed Lammy is F Sec given what he’s said and supported before.
Starmer..willing to give him the benefit of the doubt but he has the charisma and gravitas of a wet paper bag, and is seen as just another lefty lawyer who prosecuted British Soldiers.
So we have the China question, the M East sea lanes question, and Lord Robertson, C, the Head of SIS and the DG of the SS all warning of the dangers of China.
And we withdraw to Europe?
Great.
NATO first? NATO covers Europe, North America, the Med and the North Atlantic above the Tropic of Cancer. So if the Chinese bomb Pearl Harbour are we going to tell the Yanks, sorry, but that’s not covered by Article 5? Are we going to tell Australia that we can’t go South of the equator just at the moment? I wonder if Mr Healey’s noticed that Ukraine isn’t a NATO member.
Our commitments are global and NATO isn’t. That doesn’t matter as long as the sound bite tests well among the key demographics.
Boring Old Chestnuts, Mr Healey. You are no different to Shapps, Wallace, and the rest if all you do is talk the talk and cut at the same time.
Nobody believes you, sadly, probably including the PM and Chancellor.
They give new defence ministers a golden pair of scissors these days upon assuming office.
Nice one!
This is typical of Westminster, threaten defence cuts but at the same time issue dire warnings in regards to World safety. The bloody truth is somewhere between theses two intents. You could not write it as fiction!
OK. It’s been obvious to many of us, but what are you going to do about improving the size & capabilities of our forces in the face of such threats? If it’s more cuts I’ll think it’s just the same trick the Tories used of talking the talk while actually running our vital nations defences into the ground & risking the future of freedom. Meanwhile how about raising the threashold of pensioners winter fuel payments substantially?
If stuff comes over the proverbial fence let’s hope UK has enough stocks of everything to throw some stuff back! Yes we have allied but I can’t believe the slackness with the near total lack of some substantial GBAD in the UK by now for ports, air bases, key facilities etc. What’s happening with Sky Sabre, CAMM-MR? Is Land Aster being looked at? Look at Ukraine. You need to protect your roof!!