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| UK defence thinking to be set out | UK defence thinking to be set out |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Ministers are to set out their thinking about the UK's defence strategy and what resources will be needed to combat emerging security threats. | Ministers are to set out their thinking about the UK's defence strategy and what resources will be needed to combat emerging security threats. |
| A Green Paper published later will pave the way for a full strategic defence review after the election - the first for more than a decade. | A Green Paper published later will pave the way for a full strategic defence review after the election - the first for more than a decade. |
| None of the three main parties has said it will protect the defence budget from anticipated spending cuts. | None of the three main parties has said it will protect the defence budget from anticipated spending cuts. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown says money for Afghanistan will be "ring-fenced". | Prime Minister Gordon Brown says money for Afghanistan will be "ring-fenced". |
| He told MPs on Tuesday that supporting UK troops in Afghanistan was the government's number one defence priority and all resources requested for the mission would continue to be met by the Treasury. | He told MPs on Tuesday that supporting UK troops in Afghanistan was the government's number one defence priority and all resources requested for the mission would continue to be met by the Treasury. |
| The document, which will be debated by MPs on Wednesday, is expected to address Britain's future global role, what its armed forces should be capable of doing, and how they should be equipped. | The document, which will be debated by MPs on Wednesday, is expected to address Britain's future global role, what its armed forces should be capable of doing, and how they should be equipped. |
| The most important question raised by the Green Paper is: "What does Britain want to do in the world?" Jonathan BealeBBC News Questions on future of UK military | |
| It is likely to draw upon lessons from Afghanistan and Iraq, following criticism of equipment shortages in both campaigns - claims denied by ministers - and suggestions that, by mounting two medium-scale operations at the same time, the armed forces were over-stretched. | It is likely to draw upon lessons from Afghanistan and Iraq, following criticism of equipment shortages in both campaigns - claims denied by ministers - and suggestions that, by mounting two medium-scale operations at the same time, the armed forces were over-stretched. |
| BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the Green Paper would contain a "warning that Britain can't afford to do everything that it is currently trying to do in defence and will need to adapt its forces faster to face an increasingly uncertain world". | BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the Green Paper would contain a "warning that Britain can't afford to do everything that it is currently trying to do in defence and will need to adapt its forces faster to face an increasingly uncertain world". |
| "It suggests that Britain will have to work more closely with its allies, including improving co-operation with France - the only other European nation to spend similar amounts on its armed forces," she said. | "It suggests that Britain will have to work more closely with its allies, including improving co-operation with France - the only other European nation to spend similar amounts on its armed forces," she said. |
| Professor Michael Clarke, director of the Royal United Services Institute think tank, has seen a copy of the Green Paper. | |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The analysis behind this is not explicitly talking about the money because that is something a future government will have to determine, but the implicit idea is that we to do more with less." | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The analysis behind this is not explicitly talking about the money because that is something a future government will have to determine, but the implicit idea is that we to do more with less." |
| The Conservatives say the review should have been held long ago and must be driven by the UK's foreign policy and security goals, not budgetary considerations. | The Conservatives say the review should have been held long ago and must be driven by the UK's foreign policy and security goals, not budgetary considerations. |
| 'Diverse' threats | 'Diverse' threats |
| The Liberal Democrats have criticised the fact that the future of Trident - the UK's nuclear deterrent - will be excluded from the review, given the huge cost of its renewal. | The Liberal Democrats have criticised the fact that the future of Trident - the UK's nuclear deterrent - will be excluded from the review, given the huge cost of its renewal. |
| The last strategic defence review was completed in 1998, a year after Labour came to power. | The last strategic defence review was completed in 1998, a year after Labour came to power. |
| Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth confirmed last summer that a review would be held after the general election and that ministers would set out its parameters before then. | Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth confirmed last summer that a review would be held after the general election and that ministers would set out its parameters before then. |
| At the time, he said the review must ensure the UK's armed forces were equipped to face future challenges and respond to new threats. | At the time, he said the review must ensure the UK's armed forces were equipped to face future challenges and respond to new threats. |
| In an updated security strategy, published last summer, ministers said the UK did not face a direct threat from any one country but a "diverse and interconnected set of threats", including terrorism, failed states, pandemics and organised crime. | In an updated security strategy, published last summer, ministers said the UK did not face a direct threat from any one country but a "diverse and interconnected set of threats", including terrorism, failed states, pandemics and organised crime. |
| Ministers are likely to be pressed on whether the UK can continue to meet its existing international commitments and also adapt itself for future challenges ahead of a period of acute budgetary constraints. | Ministers are likely to be pressed on whether the UK can continue to meet its existing international commitments and also adapt itself for future challenges ahead of a period of acute budgetary constraints. |
| Defence spending is due to increase this year and next, but military experts say the Ministry of Defence's budget could fall by between 10% and 15% in real terms over the next six years if its current and capital expenditure is reduced in line with forecasts for the rest of government. | Defence spending is due to increase this year and next, but military experts say the Ministry of Defence's budget could fall by between 10% and 15% in real terms over the next six years if its current and capital expenditure is reduced in line with forecasts for the rest of government. |
| 'Unforgivable failure' | 'Unforgivable failure' |
| Answering questions from senior MPs on Tuesday, the prime minister rejected suggestions the UK was facing a £6bn "black hole" in its defence budget if it signed up fully to existing commitments, including purchasing two new aircraft carriers and the last batch of Typhoon jet fighters. | Answering questions from senior MPs on Tuesday, the prime minister rejected suggestions the UK was facing a £6bn "black hole" in its defence budget if it signed up fully to existing commitments, including purchasing two new aircraft carriers and the last batch of Typhoon jet fighters. |
| All the military's requirements in Afghanistan would continue to be met in full, he said, stressing "we are clearly ring-fencing Afghanistan and making it absolutely clear that Afghanistan receives the money necessary". | All the military's requirements in Afghanistan would continue to be met in full, he said, stressing "we are clearly ring-fencing Afghanistan and making it absolutely clear that Afghanistan receives the money necessary". |
| The Tories say the timing of the Green Paper is politically motivated and the government has consistently under-funded the armed forces since 1997. | The Tories say the timing of the Green Paper is politically motivated and the government has consistently under-funded the armed forces since 1997. |
| "Labour's unforgivable failure to carry out a defence review for 12 years... and the lack of urgency with which they have equipped our forces for the conflict in Afghanistan was always going to have consequences for our security," shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said. | "Labour's unforgivable failure to carry out a defence review for 12 years... and the lack of urgency with which they have equipped our forces for the conflict in Afghanistan was always going to have consequences for our security," shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said. |
| The Lib Dems also say a defence review is urgently needed but maintain it must include the future of Trident, whose renewal was backed by MPs in 2007. | The Lib Dems also say a defence review is urgently needed but maintain it must include the future of Trident, whose renewal was backed by MPs in 2007. |
| The party says the UK can no longer afford the estimated £20bn cost of replacing it and, while continuing to back a deterrent, believes more cost-effective alternatives must be considered. | The party says the UK can no longer afford the estimated £20bn cost of replacing it and, while continuing to back a deterrent, believes more cost-effective alternatives must be considered. |