British PM accused of "corrosive complacency" on defence by former NATO chief

Britain’s political leadership has been accused of showing “corrosive complacency” on defence, amid warnings that the country is facing a mounting funding gap and growing security threats.

Lord George Robertson, former NATO secretary-general and author of the government’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR), criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s approach, saying there is a widening disconnect between rhetoric and delivery on military spending, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

He said the prime minister is “not willing to make the necessary investment”.

Robertson warned that Britain is facing a significant shortfall in defence planning, with officials estimating a gap of around £28bn over the next four years in existing military commitments. He is due to expand on his concerns in a lecture in Salisbury on April 14.

Britain’s leaders have shown a “corrosive complacency” towards defence, putting the country “in peril” while it is “under attack”, he is expected to say, adding: “We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe . . . Britain’s national security and safety is in peril.”

He will also criticise what he describes as Treasury resistance to higher defence spending, stating: “We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.” Robertson is expected to argue that fiscal constraints and competing domestic spending priorities are undermining military readiness.

The intervention comes amid delays to the government’s 10-year Defence Investment Plan, which was intended to set out how the SDR’s ambitions would be funded. The plan has been repeatedly postponed, with reported deadlock between the Ministry of Defence, HM Treasury and Downing Street over funding mechanisms, including fiscal rules and limits on borrowing.

Robertson is also expected to highlight operational strains, citing Britain’s limited naval deployment during recent tensions linked to the Iran conflict, and warning of wider weaknesses in logistics, cyber capability, ammunition supply, training and medical support. He is also expected to argue that “there’s a hybrid war being declared on us already, and it could change at any moment” to direct military confrontation.

NATO is facing shifting strategic dynamics, he will argue, saying that US priorities have changed following criticism from Donald Trump of the alliance’s direction. He is also expected to warn against political “point-scoring”, calling it “a dangerous luxury”.

The government has defended its position, saying it is delivering on the SDR and has pledged a major increase in defence spending. A spokesperson said: “We are delivering on the Strategic Defence Review to meet the threats we face. It is backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, with a total of over £270bn being invested across this parliament.”

The government has also set a target of spending 3% of GDP on defence by the end of the next parliament, rising towards a broader NATO security goal of 5% by 2035. Officials say the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan will be published once finalised.

By Aghakazim Guliyev