Appointment of Envoy to Oversee National Priority

The foreign secretary has revealed that the UK will appoint a new envoy. This is to oversee a plan to ramp up the production of weapons and ammunition. The production of weapons and ammunition is now a “national priority” in the UK.

Lord Cameron, speaking on a visit to Ukraine, also underlined the importance of supporting the Ukrainian war effort against Russia, warning that the world was at an “absolutely critical tipping point” and Kyiv must prevail or else Europe faces a “very dangerous future.”

However, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested considering sending NATO troops to Ukraine. He, however, cautioned against this idea, warning that such a move would be a “dangerous escalation.”

“I don’t think it is right to have NATO soldiers killing Russian soldiers,” the foreign secretary said in an interview in the western city of Lviv on Friday, having met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top ministers in Kyiv on Thursday.

Lord Cameron visit to Ukraine

Lord Cameron made a two-day visit to Ukraine to reaffirm the UK’s commitment. During his trip, he promised to transfer more British military stockpiles, including precision-guided bombs and air defence missiles.

The UK has also promised at least £3 worth of military assistance annually.

But Western nations are struggling to provide munitions to Ukraine’s frontline as rapidly as Russia is rearming its military. Russian troops have been making gains in the east of Ukraine in recent months.

President Putin put his economy on a war footing when he launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February. NATO allies are only slowly starting to move in this direction.

Last week, Rishi Sunak declared that the UK’s defence spending would amount to 2.5% of the national income. He added that this would result in an additional £75bn in investment.

He announced that the UK defence industry would be put on a “war footing.” Additionally, he mentioned that £10bn of new funding would be allocated for domestic munitions production over the next decade.UK to Increase Weapons Production for Ukraine and Western Defence as Lord Cameron Announces Appointment of Envoy to Oversee National Priority

Read more:

Starmer calls for Sunak to address the nation.

.The Impact of Budget Constraints on the UK’s Defenses

‘We need to build our own stocks’

Asked how Britain could force defence companies like BAE Systems, Thales and Babcock—which have to answer to their shareholders, Lord Cameron revealed the plan for a new envoy for defense production. To increase production lines at the required rate and scale, not the government—requires some kind of legislation to force action.

“There is a £10 billion munitions strategy,” he said. “This strategy will ramp up production as you mentioned,” he added.

“But crucially, I think we can go further than that in terms of a specific defence envoy with the ability of the prime minister to go out and make sure we are doing those multi-year deals with the defence suppliers because we need not only to provide more weapons to Ukraine, we need to build up our own stocks.

National Priority

“So this is very important; it is a national priority.

“The prime minister is taking the lead, and I think the industry will respond.”

A reporter asked about the new envoy and his potential comparison to Lord Beaverbrook. The identity of the new envoy is still unknown, but he is expected to be tasked with expanding aircraft production. The new envoy’s role recalls that of Lord Beaverbrook during World War II. He was instrumental in increasing aircraft production. During the Second World War, Lord Cameron made the following statement: “It is the 21st century.” “There won’t be a Lord Beaverbrook,” he added.

But he signaled that the envoy’s commitment to fund multi-year contracts for munitions would be key. This approach could also help drive down costs.

“It is possible to go to the defence contractors and say to them: ‘You are not going to get the price you might have hoped for year after year because we are going to make a contract with you over the coming years to make sure we replenish our ammunition, our artillery, our long-range fires, and our missiles’—those crucial things are vital for Ukraine but also vital for our own defence.”

Lord Cameron was asked why a specific envoy was necessary for the role. He responded, “I believe we need a direct line to the prime minister to ensure this becomes the national priority it clearly is.”UK to Increase Weapons Production for Ukraine and Western Defence as Lord Cameron Announces Appointment of Envoy to Oversee National Priority

A dangerous future:

Cameron warns of ‘dangerous future’

Turning to the war in Ukraine, the foreign secretary said Europe faced “two futures”—one in which Ukrainian forces, backed by Western weapons, were able to push out the Russian invaders and secure what he called “just peace.”.

“That is a footing on which you can see great security and prosperity for us and for Europe,” he said.

But he warned: “A future in which Putin is successful and Ukraine is pushed back is, I think, a very dangerous future.”

Lord Cameron expressed that Moldova and the Baltic NATO countries would be fearful of President Putin potentially targeting them next.

In addition, the authoritarian regimes in Iran and China would be watching closely.

“I think we are at an absolutely crucial tipping point in global affairs,” Lord Cameron added.