Britain’s armed forces face significant reductions under the Green Party’s ‘non-offensive defence strategy,’ which calls for reallocating the defense budget and eliminating the nuclear deterrent.

Core Elements of the Strategy

The Green Party’s ‘Peace, Security and Defence’ policy outlines a shift toward global peace through dialogue, diplomacy, and trust-building. It proposes progressively reallocating the defense budget to prioritize peace promotion and address threats from the climate and ecological emergency.

In response to any attack on Britain, the strategy advocates a ‘proportional and legal response.’ On terrorism, the policy states that expressing sympathy for the aims of organizations like Hamas or Al-Qaeda should not be criminalized, though aiding, abetting, or funding such acts remains illegal.

Additional reforms include raising the minimum recruitment age for the armed forces from 16 to 18 or older. The party rejects nuclear deterrence and pledges to dismantle nuclear weapons, cancel the Trident program, remove foreign nuclear weapons from UK soil, ban nuclear-related exports, and prohibit nuclear-armed ships in UK waters.

Criticism from Political Opponents

Political rivals have condemned the proposals as unrealistic. Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge described the policy as suited to a ‘fantasy world’ that would leave Britain vulnerable. ‘Deterrence keeps the peace and strength prevents conflict,’ he stated. He also called the stance on sympathizing with terrorist aims ‘dangerously naïve,’ arguing it blurs moral lines and undermines social cohesion.

Reform UK MP Danny Kruger warned that the plans would render the UK ‘weaker and more exposed’ amid global instability. He highlighted concerns over the party’s attitude toward Hamas and Al-Qaeda, noting that any ambiguity risks public safety and national security.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer criticized the Greens in Parliament as ‘weak on NATO and soft on Putin.’ A Labour source echoed this, labeling the approach ‘reckless and dangerously naïve,’ particularly with Ukraine facing its fourth year of Russia’s invasion.

The Conservatives, Reform UK, and Labour collectively branded the policies ‘fantasy,’ ‘reckless,’ and ‘dangerously naïve.’

Broader Context

These defense proposals differ from the party’s costed 2024 manifesto but represent long-standing aims, according to party sources. The Green Party has declined further comment, referring instead to its manifesto.