British armed forces 'in worse shape than thought': Minister on budget cuts
Minister of National Defense John Healey stated that the condition of the British armed forces is significantly worse than previously thought after years of military budget reductions.
12:18 PM EDT, July 23, 2024
During his speech at a conference organized by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Healey expressed concern over the current state of affairs. He described the times as 'really serious' and pointed to 'growing global threats.' The minister emphasized the need to end the current practice of internal conflicts within the armed forces over limited financial resources allocated to projects of questionable value.
We should focus on fighting on the front lines, not on financial disputes, said Healey, announcing a 'new era' in the operation of the British armed forces.
General Valeriy Zaluzhny, former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces and currently serving as Ukraine's ambassador to the United Kingdom, also spoke during the conference. Zaluzhny emphasized the need for Britain and other democracies to be prepared to prevent a potential new world war, noting that the threat concerns entire societies, not just the military.
John Healey assumed the position of defense minister in the new Labour government led by Keir Starmer.
