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The Prime Minister insisted that “we’re not on the brink of war” and said the UK was not seeking confrontation by boosting its Armed Forces.
But he warned: “In a world of increasing threats, we must show our enemies that we are resolute and determined, that their attempts to destabilise our world or redraw its borders by force will fail.
“That, with our friends and allies, we will be at the forefront of the defence of the free, democratic world, and under my leadership the United Kingdom will always stand up for our interests, deter our enemies and defend our values.”
Earlier in the speech, the Prime Minister quoted Sir Winston Churchill, saying: “As Churchill said in 1934, ‘to urge the preparation of defence is not to assert the imminence of war. On the contrary, if war were imminent, preparations for defence would be too late’.”
Writing for The Telegraph, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the Chief of the Defence Staff, welcomed the announcement, saying it showed that “Britain has lost none of her famous resolve”.
Evoking the memory of D-Day, he added: “In all the great conflicts of the 20th century, Britain prevailed because we understood what was at stake. That is no less important a precondition for success in the 21st century.”
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