Overview
- Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said the UK is in the 'most dangerous period' in decades, which he warned on Friday as Russia steps up probing, cyber attacks and other hostile activity.
- The long‑delayed Defence Investment Plan has not been published and the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary say it will be released before the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7.
- Reporting and defence sources say a dispute between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury has left a reported funding shortfall of about £28 billion to 2030 and that an originally signalled four‑year uplift near £18 billion may be trimmed to about £15 billion.
- Military leaders and industry warn the pause is harming readiness and investment decisions and leaves critical gaps in munitions, drones, autonomous systems and programmes linked to the Global Combat Air Programme.
- Allies are watching the outcome closely and an anonymous US official warned cuts below the £18 billion figure would send a negative signal to President Trump while ministers weigh how to fund the plan and possible trade‑offs across government.