Observations

We know that many of our readers take an interest in defence matters. For newer readers, we should like to reiterate that Facts4EU.Org has always argued that the UK’s defence budget target should be at least doubled, to 4% of GDP.

Liz Truss, in her brief tenure as Prime Minister, promised to raise it to 3%. Rishi Sunak has now reduced this to 2.5% but there is no indication when this target might be delivered.

In short, we remain dissatisfied with the Government’s commitment to our armed forces in an increasingly dangerous world. That said, our report above (and the preceding Part One and Part Two) shows the relative performances of the EU compared with the United Kingdom. The UK has consistently outperformed the EU on defence and looks set to continue to do so.

Never once have we read any words of gratitude from the EU Commission for the UK’s role in continuing to help to protect Europe – before and after Brexit. Yes it is obviously in the UK’s interests to exert its defence capabilities further than its own shores, but many British operations have been taking place across the EU’s eastern and southern flanks which go beyond the requirement to protect the United Kingdom itself.

We can’t help feeling a simple “Danke schön” from Frau von der Leyen would not go amiss.

We must get reports like this out there

Reports like the one above take far longer to research, write and produce than many people realise. If they were easy, readers would see other organisations also producing these daily.

However, there’s little point in the Facts4EU.Org team working long hours, seven days-a-week, if we lack the resources to promote them effectively – to the public, to MPs, and to the media. This is where you come in, dear reader.

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