posted 16th June 2025
Right now (June 2025) the world is getting more dangerous. Russia shows no sign of backing down in its war with Ukraine; tensions are even higher in the Middle East following Israel’s attack on Iran; and the US under President Trump has signalled that it will no longer guarantee its support to Europe.
In response, the British government has recently announced a major increase in defence spending. Is that the right response? As so often, the arguments can be broken down to pragmatic and principled.
For increasing defence spending
Pragmatic
- We face many new threats. If Russia is successful in its assault on Ukraine, they may be emboldened to invade more European countries. The US under Trump is unwilling to stand up to Russia, and has indicated it will no longer guarantee Europe’s security. Further down the line, China may decide to invade Taiwan, encouraged by Trump’s indifference to the fate of other countries. We need to be properly prepared now for what may happen in the future. If we want peace, we must prepare for war.
- Increased defence spending will be good for the economy. It will provide lots of jobs and increase growth.
- Setting up properly prepared and funded armed forces is not something you can do overnight. Nor will our enemies give us lots of notice. We need to be ready now for threats in the future.
Principled
- The government has a duty to protect its citizens. It is morally wrong not to do so.
- We should not depend on other countries; the US are right to say it is not their job to defend us. We need to look after ourselves.
- A strong UK defence will make for a more just world, by deterring tyrants like Putin from invading more countries.
Against increasing defence spending
Pragmatic
- We cannot afford increased defence spending; it will involve cuts to public spending which will harm vulnerable people and / or tax rises which will damage the economy.
- Spending more money on tanks and artillery is pointless when hostile nations can use more ‘light-touch’ weapons such as cyberwarfare against us. We need to have not bigger, but smarter armed forces.
- Having a bigger army makes us look more threatening and will make us more enemies. Costa Rica has no army and has never been invaded.
- Use of ‘soft power’, such as foreign aid to countries threatened by famine and civil war, is a much more effective way of preventing war.
Principled
- It is just wrong, in a time of economic difficulty for so many people, to buy more tanks and bombs. We should be spending our money on helping vulnerable people, not on killing machines.
- Peace and negotiation are the best way to resolve disputes.
- Wars always end up causing more suffering and do not resolve anything.
- Increasing arms spending makes war more likely; the more arms there are in the world, the more war there will be.
Motions that go with this topic
1. This house would increase defence spending.
2. This house would scrap Britain’s nuclear deterrent.
3. This house would introduce compulsory military service for all 18 year olds.
4. This house would be pacifist.
5. This house would send British troops to Ukraine.
