UK Defence Minister Vows Continued Increase in Military Spending

London (ANTARA) - Britain’s newly appointed Defence Minister, Dan Jarvis, has promised a sustained increase in military spending and a major modernisation effort, while warning that years of ‘accumulated neglect’ have left the armed forces under strain. Speaking at the RUSI Land Warfare Conference 2026 in London on Tuesday (23/6), Jarvis said the government inherited nearly every major programme behind schedule, a delayed nuclear deterrent upgrade, and an army at its smallest size in centuries. ‘There is no overnight fix. No single defence review or funding settlement can erase the legacy of neglect that has built up,’ he said. Jarvis sought to dismiss criticism of defence funding levels by asserting that under this government, defence spending is rising, and by more than anyone currently serving in the military has ever witnessed. He said the UK defence budget now includes an additional £11 billion in annual defence spending compared to when they took office, and highlighted the government’s long-term commitment. ‘We will have another spending review next year where I expect defence will be a top priority,’ he stated. On commitments to NATO, he reaffirmed the UK’s pledge to increase defence spending to 3.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2035. ‘I told the NATO Secretary General last week that this pledge will be met, and a credible plan will be drawn up to ensure it happens,’ he said. The Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which Jarvis is accelerating ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, will add funding on top of the existing parliamentary commitment of £270 billion. Jarvis also highlighted lessons from modern warfare. He said drones now dominate the battlefield and stressed the need for greater investment in artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, and unmanned platforms. However, he cautioned against over-reliance on a single type of military capability. ‘As long as we remain a member of NATO, we will not fight alone,’ he said.