The British Army has been ordered to halt “non-essential” training exercises to save approximately £30 million, amid ongoing pressure on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to increase defense spending. A defense source stated the cuts, expected to last most of the year, will impact units not preparing for immediate deployments, eliminating exercises like live fire drills and tank maneuvers at locations such as Salisbury Plain and Sennybridge. The move comes after Chancellor John Healey declined to commit to a 3% of GDP defense spending target by 2030, a pledge his resignation as Defence Secretary was linked to.
The Army will prioritize training informed by lessons from the war in Ukraine, including drone and counter-drone warfare, and maintain preparation for deployed units in locations like Estonia, the Falklands, and Cyprus. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is struggling to fund all investment plans despite the government’s commitment to increase defense spending to 2.5% of national income by next year. A memo reportedly indicated that around 600 troops are affected by the pause, with large-scale exercises involving 90 or more personnel cancelled.
While the government intends to reach 2.7% of GDP spending by 2027/28, some, including Commons Defence Select Committee chairman Tan Singh Dhesi, are urging a commitment to the 3% target by 2030. Germany is projected to reach 3.5% of GDP by 2030, exceeding the 3% target for NATO member states. Former tank commander Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon warned the cuts are “self-harm” and could be interpreted as a lack of deterrence by Russia. The Army is also investing £2 billion to transform training over the next 15 years.
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