Military spending versus foreign aid – Starmer’s skewed priorities

JVL Introduction

Here is a calm and reasoned consideration of Keir Starmer’s decision to do Donald Trump’s bidding by increasing so-called “defence” spending while cutting foreign aid – a step that was too much even for previously-loyal cabinet member Annaliese Dodds.

Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) says this approach “risks placing sheer financial outlay ahead of strategic foresight, diplomacy, and conflict prevention.”

It warns against allowing the political landscape to be ever more “skewed towards militarised solutions and away from the root causes of international tension.”

We would specify arming Israel as it commits genocide against Palestinians as a prime example of that approach.

NWI

This article was originally published by Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) on Tue 25 Feb 2025. Read the original here.