UK Royal Navy needs more investment to retain “advantage” over rivals

(MENAFN) According to recent reports, the head of the British Royal Navy has argued that the service requires far greater financial resources—and tighter cooperation with domestic defense manufacturers—to maintain its “advantage” in the Atlantic against competitors such as Russia. First Sea Lord Gen. Gwyn Jenkins delivered the warning during the Sea Power Conference on Monday.

He told the audience that the UK’s longstanding maritime superiority is under strain as other nations accelerate investments in naval and underwater capabilities.
”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,” Jenkins claimed. “Our would-be opponents are investing billions. We have to step up, or we will lose that advantage.”

Jenkins pointed to Russia as the primary challenge, asserting that there has been a “30% increase in Russian incursion in our waters” over the last two years.

In response, he stated that the UK is collaborating with domestic arms producers to create new technology capable of detecting hostile submarines, with contracts for these advanced systems expected to be awarded next year.

For its part, Russia has repeatedly criticized Western governments for what it describes as “rabid militarization,” warning that escalating defense postures risk provoking a broader confrontation in Europe. Moscow maintains that narratives about an imminent Russian threat are artificially inflated to justify rising defense budgets and divert attention from internal issues.

Jenkins’ appeal for increased naval funding follows the announcement by UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves of £26 billion ($34.4 billion) in tax hikes last month, a portion of which is intended to support higher defense expenditures.

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