Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 19 November 2020, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson presented to parliament proposals to increase the country’s defense spending in 2020-2024 due to the fact that "the situation in the world is now more dangerous than it has been since the Cold War."

Experts report that the increase in defense potential in all areas, which the Prime Minister announced, implies the allocation of an additional 16.5 billion pounds (22 billion dollars) to strengthen the country’s defense potential, which is the most serious increase in London’s defense investment. over the past 30 years.

According to the Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the budget of the British Ministry of Defense for 2020 is about US$55 billion, of which US$48.7 billion is planned directly for military expenditures. By this indicator, the country is inferior not only to the United States, but and France with its US$50.1 billion and Germany US$49.3 billion. After the growth of appropriations, London will come to the second place in NATO in terms of defense spending.

Experts note that the allocated funds will be primarily spent on high technologies, and not on the maintenance of troops and monetary allowances. It is planned to create new secret services - the national cybersecurity forces to protect the population from Internet threats and the Agency for Artificial Intelligence. Also, the new "Space Operations Center" has been tasked with launching the first British rocket in 2022.

In addition, it is planned to create the largest surface fleet in Europe, which will include 13 frigates - multipurpose anti-submarine defense and air defense ships that are used in general-purpose operations.

Along with this, it was decided to strengthen the fleet and ground forces with directed energy weapons that destroy targets with lasers. It is assumed that in four years about 40,000 new jobs will be created.

In general, according to experts, the increase in defense spending is a strategic step by the current UK Cabinet. It allows you to raise the political authority of the current authorities, increase the country’s foreign policy weight, and also give an economic impetus through the defense industry enterprises.