The first full day of the NATO summit kicks off on Wednesday in Madrid, Spain, where the allies will discuss NATO’s future as it seeks to agree on a plan for a new decade of growing threats. In his speech, Boris Johnson will urge member states to invest more in modernizing defense, warning that this decade will be more risky and competitive than the previous one. NATO members have pledged to spend at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense, but only nine of the 30-member alliance meet this requirement. The United Kingdom has been fulfilling this goal every year since its inception, and Mr Johnson will say: “The NATO alliance keeps our people safe every day. But over the next 10 years, the threats around us will increase. “We need allies – all allies – to dig deep to restore deterrence and secure defense over the next decade. “The 2% has always been meant to be a floor, not a ceiling, and the allies must continue to step up in this time of crisis.” The Minister of Defense says that “bigger investments” are needed from 2024 Ahead of the prime minister’s speech, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace urged the prime minister to increase spending on the UK armed forces until the middle of the decade in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mr Wallace said defense spending was in the right place “for the here and now”, but told Sky News’ Kay Burley that after 2024 “we should probably see more investment”. He added that the government’s “appetite” for the use of the army must be “matched with resources”, noting that “if the threat changes, we must always be open to increasing this funding”. Mr Wallace continued: “We are doing this in many other areas around the government – when the NHS has been under winter pressure for decades and decades, the chancellors of the time have stepped up and invested in responding to this response.” Asked how much more money the State Department would like to have, Mr Wallace replied: “How long is a piece of string?” “I always want enough to face the threat,” he added. UK defense spending is projected to reach 2.3% of GDP this year, largely due to support provided to Ukraine since February. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 11:01 Boris Johnson says he does not believe the United Kingdom will go to war with Russia in a lengthy interview with Sky’s Dominic Wagorn. The United Kingdom is expanding its presence in Estonia The Prime Minister will also announce that the UK military presence in Estonia will be strengthened, a decision that comes just days after NATO announced plans to increase the number of troops on high alert by 650%, from 40,000 to 300,000. According to officials, a larger presence in Estonia would allow the United Kingdom to provide rapid aid if needed. “We are working with Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on what we can do to further support Estonia, to help it operationally. “Work is continuing for close political and military cooperation. Our commitment to Estonia, as well as our commitment to all our friends in NATO, is absolute,” Johnson said. At home, however, the prime minister is facing criticism over the level of funding for the military, with the new army chief, General Sir Patrick Saunders, saying further cuts in the military would be “distorted”. The British army is going to shrink from the target number of 82,000 to 72,500. Meanwhile, arriving at the NATO summit in Madrid, Alliance Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg unveiled plans for 300,000 troops to remain on high alert – out of the existing 40,000. Speaking to television stations that he expected the troops to be ready “by next year”, Mr Stoltenberg said they would be based in their home countries but would be “pre-determined in certain areas” to be ready to strengthen their defenses there with heavy equipment and supplies already in place if needed. Mr Stoltenberg said: “This combination of these three factors – pre-installed equipment, more forward-looking and ready-to-deploy forces – are, at least for the land element, the more important elements of how to strengthen deterrence and defense “. Sweden and Finland are one step closer to accession On the eve of the summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lifts the obstacle to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, a major boost to the alliance. By Tuesday, Turkey had resisted the move, insisting the Nordic countries needed to change their stance on Kurdish rebels it considers terrorists. However, an agreement was reached, paving the way for Finland and Sweden. Mr Johnson is expected to meet with the leaders of Turkey and the two Nordic nations on the sidelines of the summit on Wednesday. Follow the Daily Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker The UK had backed Sweden and Finland’s candidacies for membership in the alliance. Mr Johnson said they were “breaking decades of historical neutrality” to join the organization, which showed the alliance was “in good health”. “The participation of Sweden and Finland will make our glorious alliance stronger and more secure,” he said.
