The report, published by the Transition Security Project, a research centre spun out of the Common Wealth thinktank, argues that the UK's global military orientation is a symptom of a "destructive, outdated foreign policy" that has often made the globe less safe. It says the government's defence investment plan (Dip), which aims to raise spending to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2035, should be accompanied by a strategic reorientation toward domestic defence.
Using figures from 2024/25, the report estimates that about 23 percent of the military budget – more than £14 billion – was spent on overseas commitments. Of that, around £2.8 billion went to bases outside Europe, including in Cyprus, Kenya and Oman, described as "strategic hubs" for projecting UK military power. The UK is the most overseas-committed among European NATO members, even if France has more personnel stationed abroad.
The report questions whether the new money in the Dip will reverse this trend, noting that the plan talks about ongoing commitments across several continents. It points out that since 2001 the UK has spent more than £51 billion in modern terms on interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and elsewhere.
"Britain's decision to maintain a global network of military bases and force projection capabilities, combined with high levels of waste in the military procurement system, raise serious questions about how it is allocating public investment," the report states. It urges the government to "review its military posture, prioritising defence over the global projection of military force."
The report comes amid internal divisions over defence spending. Former defence secretary John Healey resigned over a refusal to commit to reaching 3 percent of GDP by 2030; now chancellor, he has shelved that target. The current plan would double the defence budget from about £70 billion in 2026 to £151 billion by 2035.