British Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace has claimed the United Kingdom (UK) will be dragged into a conflict by the end of the decade and will have to begin spending more on national defense to thwart growing international threats, including Vladimir Putin’s Russia, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and Islamic terror groups.
Wallace – recently in contention to replace Jens Stoltenberg as Secretary-General of NATO – highlighted the increasing “instability” in international affairs, telling a reporter at The Times:
“Towards the end of the decade, the world is going to be much more unsafe, more insecure. I think we will find ourselves in a conflict. Whether it is a cold or a warm conflict, I think we’ll be in a difficult position.”
It is also vital to maintain strategic dialogue with the CCP in regards to Taiwan. If not, “[w]e could see a total breakdown of politics in the Pacific,” ensuring a Cold War by 2030, Wallace explains. The same is true with Vladimir Putin, as there is “an ability for him, in the next three to four years, to lash out” at the West, Wallace adds.
Higher defense spending has become “a necessity” for Britain and NATO as a result, with Wallace stating that NATO members “have to contribute… It’s still the case that only [20 percent] of the defence spending of Nato is by EU members” – a fact regularly highlighted by former President Donald Trump during his presidency.
