Britain's Armed Forces Shrink as Spending Debates Intensify
Former NATO chief Lord Robertson warns UK security is in peril as the armed forces shrink since 1990, with the army down from 153,000 regulars to about 74,000, reservists reduced, the navy and RAF reduced in major assets, and drones becoming part of defence. The government pledges the largest defence spending increase since the Cold War and NATO targets, but critics point to procurement delays and question whether spending will keep pace with new threats.