The Defence Secretary, John Healey, has declared the world is in a "more dangerous" new era of threat, using a major speech to outline a "New Deal for European security" built on stronger alliances, advanced technology, and sustained investment.
In the annual Defence and Security Lecture at Mansion House, Healey warned that "not since the end of the Second World War has Europe’s security been at such risk of state-on-state conflict."
He pointed to escalating Russian aggression, conflict between India and Pakistan, and China's "unprecedented" naval activities as evidence of a volatile global landscape.
'Bloody Union Jack': A New Arms Race
The Defence Secretary outlined a vision to meet these challenges, emphasising that modern warfare is being transformed by technology. He revealed that drones now account for 80% of casualties in Ukraine, signalling a fundamental shift in conflict.
"This is now an age for hard power," he stated, invoking the spirit of post-war Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, who insisted Britain must have the atomic bomb with "the bloody Union Jack on top of it."
Healey argued the UK is now in a similar "brains race," committing to double investment in drones and autonomous systems to over £4 billion in this Parliament and establishing a new UK Drone Centre.
"Plans simply to ‘modernise’ our Armed Forces will fall short," he said. "The imperative is to transform our defence."
Ukraine: The 'Central Task' and a Future NATO Vanguard
The speech placed unwavering support for Ukraine as the government's most urgent priority, confirming the UK will provide a record £4.5 billion in military aid this year alone.
Healey announced concrete steps, including the joint UK-Ukrainian production of ‘Octopus’ interceptor drones "within weeks" and a review of British readiness levels for any possible future deployment.
He also detailed the progress of the UK- and France-led "Coalition of the Willing," which is planning a 'Multinational Force Ukraine' to help secure the country in the event of a ceasefire.
"A battle-smart, battle-tested Ukraine will be in the vanguard of future European defence and deterrence," Healey said, framing a secure Ukraine as essential for all of Europe.
A 'New Deal' for Alliances and Investment
The address laid out a blueprint for deeper military integration with allies, citing the UK's recent £10 billion warship deal with Norway as a "blueprint" for how NATO nations must be ready to "combine our forces."
He pledged that over the next five years, joint operations with interoperable standards would be a "hallmark" of the UK's security strategy.
On spending, Healey defended the government's accelerated timeline to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence, arguing that while deterrence is costly, the cost of inaction is far greater. He cited an estimated £90 billion in additional UK gas costs due to Russian aggression.
"The ‘long peace’ that we enjoyed gave rise to a collective complacency," he said, welcoming that all NATO nations are now expected to meet the 2% spending target this year.
The speech concluded by framing the government's mission in simple terms: "to meet the challenges in this new era of threat to forge a new era for European security," signalling a permanent shift in Britain's defence posture for a more contested world.
