Accelerating the modernisation of our Armed Forces and investing in technology that is advantageous on the modern battlefield.
together with an additional 2% to exploit that R&D, accelerating investments in new weapon systems.
We will secure additional military supplies for Ukraine
and build international agreement to use immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine.
This will be based on the latest assessment of threats and risks, bringing together defence and civilian planning to reflect our increasingly interdependent world,
and sit alongside work to build on learnings from Covid to improve the country’s preparedness for risks on the National Risk Register.
We are proud to have created the United Kingdom’s first Office for Veterans Affairs, run by a dedicated Minister who attends Cabinet, transforming what it feels like to be a Veteran in the United Kingdom.
We will retain the National Insurance holiday for those who employ veterans
Ensuring qualifications from Service are correctly recognised in civilian life,
creating a legal duty on government to look after our Veterans
and widening the scope of the Armed Forces Covenant in law to include the UK Government and devolved administrations.
Defence already contributes significantly to our economic prosperity, supporting over 400,000 jobs in the UK.
As part of our new investment in defence, we will prioritise growth in UK industries and supporting communities across the United Kingdom.
We will make sure new investment is spent more effectively than before.
By delivering our new Integrated Procurement Model, we will make defence procurement faster, smarter and more joined up,
We will ensure we achieve value for money from this investment in defence alongside our procurement reforms.
Since the 2019 election, the Conservative Government has delivered on our promise to make Britain a force for good in the world.
We are proud of our record in defence and diplomacy in an increasingly contested and dangerous world
and we celebrate the professionalism of our Armed Forces, diplomats, development experts and intelligence agencies.
Our highest priority remains protecting the British homeland, Crown dependencies and Overseas Territories from risks and threats.
As part of that, we continue to ensure the democratic rights of people in Gibraltar, the Falklands and all our Overseas Territories are protected.
We believe that the United Kingdom needs to be outward-looking and global in perspective, seizing opportunities to deepen its economic ties and bolster its prosperity in the most dynamic parts of the world.
We have a record in standing up to those who threaten our security and values,
and we are taking new action to protect ourselves, our democracy and our economy at home.
We must be prepared to tackle the axis of authoritarian states and hostile actors who are working together to threaten international security.
We will strengthen our relationships with like-minded partners around the world.
We will keep investing in our collective security through groups like the G7, Five Eyes and NATO.
We will deepen cooperation with Commonwealth partners and institutions to enhance the benefits of membership,
strengthen intra-Commonwealth trade, support members facing challenges in attracting inward investment
and strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable members to climate change, nature loss and environmental degradation.
In relation to China, we will strengthen our national security protections,
align and cooperate with our partners,
and engage where it is consistent with our interests.
China has disregarded universal human rights and its international commitments, from Tibet and Xinjiang to Hong Kong.
We will continue to raise our grave concerns at the UN and other fora
and use asset freezes and travel bans on those involved under our human rights sanctions regime.
We will bolster the Hiroshima Accord with Japan
and expand trade and security ties with South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore.
We will finalise a free trade agreement with India,
alongside a deeper strategic partnership on technology and defence.
and use this advantage to the maximum benefit in every post overseas.
We will return to spending 0.7% of GNI when fiscal circumstances allow.
We will work with our partners to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals and tackle poverty, as set out in the International Development White Paper.
We will stand up for those persecuted for their faith and put the existing role of Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief on a statutory footing.
and work to end human trafficking and modern slavery.
We will continue our campaigns against child marriage and FGM.
We will continue our longstanding support for GAVI and the Global Fund - organisations that have saved millions of lives in the fight against disease.
We will support the BBC World Service,
expand the use of the English language worldwide
and champion English learning around the globe.