Read on Twitter
Genuinely impressive investment at a time of eye-watering deficits everywhere. But hope speech has some detail on (1) how this fits into broader foreign and security policy vision, and (2) what trade-offs are being made? What capabilities being cut? https://twitter.com/shashj/status/1329190145451565059
Oh, and the bad news: the "full conclusions" of the UK "integrated" defence & foreign policy review will not be announced until the new year.
"The [new UK] AI agency is expected to develop autonomous weapons systems." https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/boris-johnson-pledges-16bn-military-spending-spree-598cr9qrz
Shadow defence secretary with some unpleasant truths: "Since 2010 the size of the armed forces has been cut by a quarter, defence spending was cut by over ÂŁ8 billion and the defence budget has a ÂŁ13 billion black hole." https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/boris-johnson-pledges-16bn-military-spending-spree-598cr9qrz
"Although the money is agreed, details of the gov't strategy for foreign, defence, development & security policy will be finalised in the new year. The integrated review, which draws the strands together, is expected to be published at the end of January" https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/boris-johnson-pledges-16bn-military-spending-spree-598cr9qrz
Good thread on the new UK Space Command. Space duties currently split across different parts of MoD so opportunities for consolidation. But details key: "any major space investment will close off or cut investments in others" https://twitter.com/bleddb/status/1329353915314401280?s=20
