Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has pledged to increase the British army by 20,000 as she warned that any replacement of Donald Trump in the White House will continue his military policies of moving away from European defence.
In a speech to the London Defence Conference, Ms Badenoch admitted to “dismay” at the language used by President Trump but warned that the idea of European defence without US involvement is “a fairytale”.
It came as she pledged “the largest net increase in British troops under any government since the Second World War” if the Tories return to power with an overall increase of 20,000 to the army.
Her speech comes amid questions over Keir Starmer’s plans to increase defence spending to 5 per cent and concerns over his government’s failure to provide its Defence Investment Plan details.
It also comes just ahead of King Charles III and Queen Camilla going the US on a state visit at the end of April which many are calling to be cancelled.
Sir Keir has said that Trump’s threats to “wipe out a whole civilisation” with the war on Iran have already been criticised by prime minister Sir Keir Starmer who questioned the president’s values.
Ms Badenoch said: “Many people find President Trump’s actions to be an anathema. They find his words unstatesmanlike, they find his treatment of allies to be needlessly provocative.
“I have to say that some of the president’s recent social media posts and comments to the press have dismayed me, too. Maybe his successor will return to more traditional diplomacy.”
However, she cautioned against a hope that a change in the White House will see a change in policy.
“If we comfort ourselves with these ideas we will miss the underlying lesson that Trump’s presidency is not the start, but a continuation of a change in US outlook and behaviour.
“For decades, the United States has been complaining… at least privately… that Europe is not pulling its weight on defence.
“And the ‘Special Relationship’ has not always been as special as we liked to think. Ronald Reagan invaded Grenada without consulting us, President Biden did the same when he pulled out of Afghanistan.
“President Trump may be unorthodox in how he talks to us but there are forces at play here that are much larger than his presidency.
“The mirror that he is holding up to Europe and that we are finding it so uncomfortable to look in is showing us that without the United States, we cannot properly defend ourselves. At present, European strategic autonomy is a fairytale.”
She went on: “We must reassert ourselves as a serious power in the world. Show our allies what we bring to the table and show our enemies that we are ready to defend ourselves.
“If we do not… we will have no say in whatever comes next.”
The Tory leader said that this would mean a reversal of post-Cold Wr policy of shrinking the size of the UK military.
Vowing the largest net increase in the size of the military since the Second World War, she vowed to redirect cash from benefits to defence.
She said: “I have announced that the next Conservative government would reinstate the two-child benefit cap and spend that money on defence.
“That will fund the largest net increase in British troops under any government since the Second World War.
“We will use the money to recruit 6,000 regular soldiers and 14,000 reservists as well as paying for their accommodation and equipment.
“I have said that we will reallocate £17 billion from Government R&D and Ed Miliband’s disastrous net-zero projects to create a new sovereign defence fund.
“This fund will invest in British defence start-ups, protecting our supply chains and delivering drone technology right across our armed forces, ensuring our army, navy and air force can fight as war is fought today. It is not yet 3 per cent, but it is a start.
“We will find more savings till we get there.”
