The United Kingdom plans to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of its gross domestic product by 2030, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Tuesday. According to the prime minister, the allocation will result in an additional $94 billion in defense expenditures in the next six years and $109 billion in annual spending by the...
Tag: Rishi Sunak
US Treasury Designates Entities, Individuals Involved in Iranian Drone, Missile Production
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated 16 individuals and several entities for enabling Iran’s production of unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic missiles used in a weekend attack against Israel. Companies and individuals subject to assets and trade restrictions include Oje Parvaz Mado Nafar Co. and its CEO Mohammad Sadegh...
UK Commits $416M Investment to Produce More Drones for Ukraine’s Armed Forces
The United Kingdom is sending thousands of drones to Ukraine to aid in the fight against Russia. On Thursday, Grant Shapps, the U.K.’s defense secretary, unveiled a $160 million funding package during his visit to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. The funding is in addition to the $256...
UK Extends Armed Forces Chief’s Term to Sustain Ukraine Efforts
The United Kingdom has extended the term of Adm. Sir Tony Radakin as chief of defense staff until autumn 2025. According to a report from The Telegraph, Radakin was set to retire in November, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asked him to remain in his post for another year to continue his efforts in supporting...
UK Launches Funding to Boost Nuclear Defense, Energy Industry
The United Kingdom has launched a new effort to strengthen its defense and civil nuclear industry. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged a $963 million investment to build a skilled workforce to fill 40,000 new jobs in the nuclear sector by 2030. The government is working with industry leaders such as Babcock, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and EDF...
UK to Invest $121M on AI-Enabled Mission to Cure Life-Threatening Health Conditions
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has launched a new mission to develop innovative solutions for life-threatening medical conditions using artificial intelligence technologies. In a speech delivered Thursday, Sunak announced that the United Kingdom will invest up to $120 million in the AI Life Sciences Accelerator Mission to produce treatments that could prevent death. Under the...
UK Sending Air Defense Missiles to Protect Ukraine’s People, Critical Infrastructure
The United Kingdom has started shipping air defense missiles to Ukraine to help the country protect its people and critical infrastructure from Russia’s drone attacks and bombing runs. The UK Ministry of Defence announced the new package of defense assistance following intensified assaults in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa from hundreds of Russian drones and missiles....
UK Reviewing Additional Actions Against China After Spy Arrests
The United Kingdom is considering increasing background checks on individuals working for the Chinese government and could add China to a new registration scheme that aims to crack down on foreign political influence activities, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said in a statement. The official’s remarks were in response to reports that the Metropolitan Police...