استقالة مفاجئة لوزير الدفاع البريطاني تعمّق أزمات ستارمر | news

British Defense Secretary John Healey resigned suddenly on Thursday, citing the government’s “unwillingness to spend enough on the army amid escalating threats.”

This resignation is another blow to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is already facing calls from his colleagues in the Labor Party to resign.

Haley also told Starmer in a letter that the government’s defense investment plan “falls far short of what is needed at this difficult time.” The plan’s publication was delayed amid reports of a dispute between the Ministry of Defense and the Treasury.

Healey explained that the spending plan proposed by the Treasury Department would raise defense spending to only 2.68% in 2030, after reaching 2.6% next year.

insufficient

Healey believed that this was insufficient with the increasing British defense requirements and military commitments, citing the Iranian war, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and threats from Moscow. وقال: “لم يبقَ أمامي الآن خيار سوى تقديم استقالتي”.

He played a pivotal role in strengthening international support for Ukraine and forming an international coalition to ensure security when a ceasefire is reached. Haley also contributed to leading a maritime security force concerned with keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to navigation when the war with Iran ends.

It is noteworthy that the United Kingdom and other member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have faced pressure from US President Donald Trump to increase military spending. Trump also questioned the feasibility of the military alliance, and complained that the United States was providing security to European countries that were not contributing in turn to this effort.

The British Army is also seeking to restore its years-old military strength in the face of an increasingly influential Russia, which launched war on neighboring Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and is increasingly testing the defenses of European countries through overt and covert activities.

ويبدو أنه لم يتمكّن من رأب الصدع بين هيلي ووزيرة الخزانة راشيل ريفز بشأن الإنفاق الدفاعي. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, is widely expected to challenge Starmer for the party leadership if he returns to Parliament in the special election scheduled for June 18.

British newspapers said that Haley’s resignation opened a political and security crisis that goes beyond the internal dimension, affecting Britain’s credibility as a major military partner in Europe and NATO.

At the level of allies, Western analyzes indicated that the crisis may raise questions within NATO about the extent of Britain’s commitment to its defense pledges, especially in light of increasing calls to raise military spending to more than 2.5 or 3% of the gross domestic product.

Regarding Britain’s regional role, analyzes indicate that the crisis may affect London’s ability to manage files outside Europe, such as Gulf security, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Iranian file, as Britain relies on rapid military and political readiness in areas of tension. Any disruption in defense planning may affect the speed of response and the ability of military deployment.

Estimates show that Ukraine may view these developments with concern, as it relies heavily on British military support, whether in armament, training, or political support within Western institutions. Any sign of internal division in London may be read in Kiev as a potential pressure on the continuity of support in the medium term, even if there is no immediate change in official policy.