Head of Navy says UK must ‘step up’ on defence as Russia spending billions

The head of the Royal Navy has warned Britain must “step up” on defence or risk losing its advantage in the Atlantic, as Russia continues to spend billions on its capabilities at sea.

First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said there was “no room for complacency” while Moscow invests heavily in its northern fleet.

In a speech to the International Sea Power conference in London on Monday, Sir Gwyn said there had been a “30% increase in Russian incursion in our waters” just over the last two years.

The activity is most visibly seen in the presence of spy ships like the Yantar operating near UK waters, he said, but warned: “It’s what’s going on under the waves that most concerns me.”

Sir Gwyn said: “I can also tell you today that the advantage that we have enjoyed in the Atlantic since the end of the Second World War is at risk.

“We are holding on, but not by much. There is no room for complacency. Our would-be opponents are investing billions. We have to step up, or we will lose that advantage.

“We cannot let that happen, as the Secretary of State for Defence said recently in his message direct to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, we see you and we know what you are doing.”

The Government announced earlier this year that UK defence and security spending would rise to 5% of GDP by 2035 at the latest.

Ahead of the speech, Defence Secretary John Healey had insisted that the UK and its allies are ready to “track and deter” Russian submarines as he revealed plans for a new multi-million pound programme to protect undersea cables and pipeline.

The hybrid naval force, named Atlantic Bastion, will combine autonomous vehicles and AI with warships and aircraft to identify threats to underwater structure and to defend them from interference.

“We know what Putin is doing. We know what Putin is developing,” Mr Healey told the Press Association during a visit to Portsmouth Naval Base.

“We’re able to find them, track them and, if necessary, we are ready with allies to act to deter them.”

A Government spokesperson said: “Earlier this year, the Prime Minister made a historic commitment to spend 5% of GDP on national security from 2035.

“This is a generational increase in defence and security spending, underlining the UK’s commitment to national security and honouring our commitment to be a leader in Nato.

“We have announced the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, hitting 2.6% of GDP by 2027, and an extra £5 billion for defence this year alone.

“Over this spending review period, the Government will invest over £270 billion in cash terms in defence, which will ensure no return to the hollowed out and underfunded armed forces of the past.

“We are in a new era of threat, which demands a new era for UK defence, and our landmark Strategic Defence Review sets a vision to make Britain safer, secure at home and strong abroad.”