UK should consider raising defence spending, says US navy secretary

Carlos Del Toro says present threats mean Britain may want to reinforce its armed forces

Britain should be prepared to review the size of its armed forces given the crisis in the Middle East and the threats from Russia and China, a member of the Biden administration has said during a visit to London.

Carlos Del Toro, the US navy secretary, said the UK needs to consider more investment in its navy and reinforcing the army – a day after the head of the British army warned it was too small to fight an all-out war without conscription.