Britain to Revamp Armed Forces Amid Rising Global Threats

Britain plans to strengthen its armed forces in response to growing threats from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. George Robertson, former NATO Secretary General, will lead the defense review, which is expected to report by mid-2025. Prime Minister Keir Starmer commits to increasing defense spending to 2.5% of GDP.

Britain is set to bolster its "hollowed out" armed forces in response to growing threats posed by China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, according to defense review head George Robertson. Robertson, a former NATO Secretary General, was named on Tuesday to lead the review, reporting back in 2025.

Robertson, who also served as a British defense minister, emphasized the need for battle readiness. He highlighted a "deadly quartet" of nations working together, stating that Britain and NATO must be prepared to tackle these emerging threats.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated his commitment to increasing defense spending to 2.5% of GDP at a NATO summit. He described the current state of the armed forces as "hollowed out" and stressed the necessity for long-term resilience. The review will also be overseen by foreign policy expert Fiona Hill and retired General Richard Barrons.

(With inputs from agencies.)