24 October 2023 – Simon Ross

If you want peace...

...prepare for war

The UK spends about £55bn annually on defence (about £820 per head of population per year). The UK's armed forces total about 190,000 people. With these levels of expenditure and personnel, the UK aims to deter aggression and repel aggressors.

NATO members are committed to spending 2% of GDP on defence, although in 2022 the UK was one of just nine member states (out of 31) to meet this target. With a resurgent Russia, pressures for increased military spending and preparedness are increasing.

What is the place in the modern world for national force capable of delivering extreme violence? Former UK Army soldier Simon Ross will look at the issues involved.

Simon Ross

From 1992 – 2007 Simon served in the Army with tours of Northern Ireland (twice), Balkans (twice) and Afghanistan. Simon now works at the Marches Energy Agency, helping to support vulnerable householders towards sustainable and affordable low-carbon energy usage. Simon's military and civilian experience makes him particularly aware that responses to the war in Ukraine are tied up with the UK's need to buy fossil fuels and Russia's need to sell them.