The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK), Keir Starmer, ahead of the publicizing of the long-awaited public spending plan, announced an additional £15 billion for defense needs, reports the BBC.

According to Starmer, by 2029, the UK's annual military spending will reach £80 billion. And to fund this increase, the government plans to abandon a number of road and energy projects.

In his remarks, the head of the British government emphasized that the increase in military spending is dictated by the changed international situation.

When the whole world is arming itself and aggression is intensifying, the best way to avoid war is to be prepared for it, he said.

The new UK defense investment plan includes a £5 billion boost to the military’s use of drones and autonomous combat systems.

The document includes as well a major plan to modernize the Royal Navy. The UK government plans to transform it into a hybrid fleet where traditional warships and aircraft will operate alongside autonomous ships and artificial intelligence systems. It also plans to fund the construction of six new warships.

The opposition, however, has slammed the initiative.

Conservative Party leader is Kemi Badenoch said the proposed funding was insufficient and amounted to barely half of what the UK military says is actually needed.

And Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said the plan was late and underfunded.