Ellwood warns against ‘dropping our guard’ over defence spending cuts

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been warned not to pursue defence spending cuts amid concern Britain will “drop our guard” in the face of mounting geopolitical threats. Tobias Ellwood issues the strong warning in an interview with Sky New’s Kay Burley from Ukraine where the MP was visiting along with Foreign Affairs Committee colleagues.Mr Elwood told Sky News: “We’re slowly understanding and appreciating why hard power matters, why a strong defence is absolutely critical to defend our interests.”Whether they’re around the UK, or actually here in Ukraine.”There is a symbiotic relationship between our economy, between our prosperity and our ability to trade around the world and the world is getting more dangerous, not less.”So we drop our guard at our peril.READ MORE: Ukraine hits jackpot as ‘crate after crate’ of ammunition found after Russia flees Kherson Ellwood issues warning over defence spending cuts (Image: Sky News) Tobias Ellwood in warning over defence cuts (Image: Sky News Australia)”That will affect our economy, and I hope that’s the message that we’ll hear on Thursday from the Chancellor, who himself as former Foreign Secretary recognises the importance.”There’s also an absence of international leadership there I’d say.”We’re doing much better at stepping forward, encouraging others to follow.”It’s tougher to do that if you don’t have the hard power yourself to provide that example.”Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce a cut in defence spending as part of his Autumn Budget on Thursday.According to the latest forecast, the Ministry of Defence budget is expected to rise from £47.9 billion to £48 billion in 2023 and then to £48.6 billion in 2024.It comes as China expert predicted US President Joe Biden’s stance on Taiwan to lead the US to a Korean war-style crisis.Dr Wang Wen told BBC Newsnight: “I think in the past two years that Biden has taken more actions on the Taiwan issue than any other US president.”For example, Biden sold more weapons to Taiwan, mentioned at least three times that the US would defend Taiwan, and condoned more US officials to visit Taiwan.”I think this is stepping again and again on the red line of Taiwan issues, and the Chinese mainland is doing its best to resolve the reunification issues peacefully.DON’T MISS:Russia gives Iran seized British weapons [INSIGHT]Sean Penn hands over Oscar to Zelensky as Ukraine war rages on [ANALYSIS]UK to send fighter jets and Chinooks to Russia’s doorstep [VIDEO] Military Power UK (Image: EXPRESS)”But the problem is if the US continue to be so provocative, the US would eventually become the loser again, just like the Korea battlefield in 1953, I think.”The US President held highly-anticipated talks with the Chinese leader on Monday, in which Mr Biden objected to Beijing’s “coercive and increasingly aggressive actions” towards Taiwan.Mr Biden later told a press conference that when it comes to China, the US would ‘compete vigorously, but I’m not looking for conflict.’He added: ‘I absolutely believe there need not be a new Cold War’ between America and the rising Asian power.