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GLOBAL DAYS OF ACTION ON MILITARY SPENDING (GDAMS) The world spent $1.92 trillion on the military in 2019, a 3.6% increase over the previous year and the highest figure since the end of the Cold War. Our governments’ ever-growing military capacities, in the name of national security, have proved themselves completely useless to defend people …
The UK Government’s ‘Integrated Review’ document, due for release at noon today was leaked to the press late last night, the vision it paints of ‘Global Britain’ is very much one of military power projection. Under pressure to justify the cuts in aid particularly in regard to Yemen and Syria, the document does state that …
Read moreIntegrated Review reverses decades of progress on disarmament
Today Rishi Sunak released details of the Budget at Westminster. It included an increase in military spending from £42bn in 2020-21 to £46 in 2021-22, part of a £24bn increase to the military budget over 4 years announced in November. This boost to military spending, the largest in 70 years – since the Korean War …
Read moreBudget should cut military spending to address climate crisis and human needs
This briefing note was prepared by Dr Stuart Parkinson, Executive Director of Scientists for Global Responsibility. In November 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a very large increase in UK military spending. Total additional spending is approx. £24bn over four years, i.e. an average of £6bn per year (see table and graphs in appendices). The …
Read moreBriefing points in advance of the UK government budget announcement
In November 2020, the Westminster government announced major increases in military spending, while at the same time slashing the overseas aid budget. This double-decision has been heavily criticised by many. With a further set of budget decisions on the horizon, it is important and timely to discuss the ways forward for campaigners. Ahead of the …
Read moreJoin our UK Military Budget Briefing – 22nd February
The United Kingdom is one of only eight countries in the world with nuclear weapons. UK annual spending on such weapons is £7.2bn, the third highest in the world after the US ($35.4bn) and China ($10.4bn). This staggering figure is also increasing due to the decision in 2016 to replace the UK’s current Trident missile …
Yesterday, Labour CND launched a campaign to encourage UK Labour party members to engage with the party’s front bench over their support for recent UK military spending increases. Regarding the £24bn increase announced in November the campaign page states “We think this is unacceptable. Labour’s front bench got it wrong when Keir Starmer backed Boris …
Read moreNew campaign within UK Labour Party to oppose military spending increase
In a statement to the house on Thursday 19th November Boris Johnson committed to significant new spending on the UK’s armed forces: an additional £16.5bn – amounting to a real terms increase of £24bn when combined with the already declared increase of over £7bn by 2024-25. This is a staggering sum to spend on weaponry …
Read moreBoris Johnson commits further £24 billion to UK military spending.
On December 3 (1pm UK Time) GCOMS will be hosting a webinar on Military Spending & Global (In)Security, in order to start a conversation about how current levels of military spending condition our responses to the global emergencies of our time. Speakers include: Michael Klare, Tarja Cronberg Walden Bello and Binalakshmi Nepram.The conference is supported …
Read moreGCOMS Webinar on Military Spending and Global (In)Security
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