This is a hard choice. We believe in foreign aid – but we have to make cuts. We must keep the UK safe | David Lammy
R.Below are moments in history when everything turns, but the range of change is not perceived until later when fog is wiped. These are the points of hinges that require clear leadership and bold work. In the late 1940s exhaustion The predecessor and hero Erney Bevin, along with Clement Ateli, saw through fog when they led Britain to NATO and the United Nations, and obtained the development of the British nuclear deterrent. In the sixties of the last century, Harold Wilson saw through the madness of greatness in the Cold War, and Lindon Johnson’s request refused to send British forces to Vietnam. In the nineties, Tony Blair understood that unless the President of Serbia, Slobodan Milushific, did not stop us, there will be no peace in the Balkans.
Three years after Vladimir Putin’s brutal war, this is a detailed point again for Britain. Care Starmer’s commitment to significantly raising defense spending in each of this and the next parliament shows its leadership through fog. Russia Putin poses a threat not only to Ukraine and its neighbors, but to all Europe, including the United Kingdom. On successive departments, our closest ally, the United States, is increasingly turning towards the Indian and the Pacific, and it is concept concept to European members in NATO to bear more burden on the security of our continent. All over the world, threats are multiplied: from traditional war to hybrid threats and electronic attacks.
The first and basic duty of this government’s plan for change is our national security. Seven months ago, the public gave us this responsibility, and we keep it with a deep feeling of duty. Under the conservatives, the foundations of our defense were weakened. The United Kingdom did not arrive Defense spending level of 2.5 % of GDP since it was the last work in the government. The government of work is located to restore these institutions again. We will provide the largest continuous increase in defense spending since the Cold War because we are the defense party. So we will reach our 2.5 % promise in 2027, taking into account economic conditions, we go further, with defensive spending to 3 % during the next parliament. This pledged to protect our future – and work as a security for security in our continent – in a world suffering from more active conflicts of any time since World War II.
To take this commitment and adhere to our financial rules, we had to make a very difficult decision to reduce our spending on international development. As the Prime Minister said, we do not claim that any of this is easy. This is a difficult option, there is no government – not to mention the government of the Labor Party – lightly. I am proud of our registry in international development. It helps to face global challenges from health to immigration, contributes to prosperity, and supports the most vulnerable people in the world. It grows all of our soft power and geopolitical influence, while improving life. For all these reasons, this government is still committed to the return of spending on external aid to 0.7 % of the total national income when financial conditions allow.
But we are a government of pragmatism, not ideology – and we had to balance our sympathy for our internationalism with the necessity of our national security.
With reducing the foreign aid budget, we will protect the most vital programs in the worst conflict areas in the world UkraineGaza and Sudan. But there can be no hide from the fact that many programs that do a vital work should be suspended. The work of making more difficult options on programs will continue at the frequency for the coming weeks and months, but our basic priorities will remain the same. My vision of a foreign and foreign office in the Commonwealth and Development is still commensurate with this most dangerous and dangerous world, in which diplomacy is more important than ever. We are working closely with the cabinet to ensure that the imprint of diplomacy, intelligence and development is in line with our priorities. In a difficult financial environment, all of our spending should focus on the laser focus on providing the maximum possible effects of our national security and growth, which leads to the equipment of FCDO to provide the government’s plan for change internationally.
At the height of the Cold War, defensive spending fluctuates between about 4 % and 7 % of GDP. At the moment of the financial and geopolitical flow, the lack of meeting this moment in the defense means leaving Britain is not ready for a more dangerous world, and it may require more stringent options on the line.
I wrote previously about the policy of this foreign government Founded on progressive realism. To be clear about our values, but treat the world as it is, not as we want to be. These are the principles that direct our choices through these dangerous times. We will always do what is necessary to maintain the safety of the audience.
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