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UK boosts defense spending in response to Russia and China

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Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (right), meets with US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese at Point Loma naval base in San Diego, US, Monday, March 13, 2023. [AP Photo]

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged Monday to increase military funding by 5 billion pounds ($6 billion) over the next two years in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the "epoch-defining challenge" posed by China.

The increase, part of a major update to U.K. foreign and defense policy, is less than military officials wanted. Sunak said the U.K. would increase military spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product "in the longer term," but didn't set a date. Britain currently spends just over 2% of GDP on defense, and military chiefs want it to rise to 3%.

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