UK armed forces 'not ready' for war, says defence minister

Gilligan warns of 'existential threat' posed by Russia and China

Defence spending to increase by £24bn over four years

The UK's armed forces are "not ready" for war, the defence secretary has warned. Ben Wallace said the UK must invest more in its military to counter the growing threat from Russia and China.

He said the government would increase defence spending by £24bn over the next four years, but warned that this was just a "down payment" on what was needed.

Wallace said the UK faced an "existential threat" from Russia and China, and that the country's armed forces were not currently equipped to deal with this threat.

He said the UK needed to invest in new equipment, including drones, cyber weapons and space capabilities.

Wallace's comments come at a time of heightened tensions between the UK and Russia.

In recent months, Russia has been accused of interfering in the UK's general election, poisoning a former Russian spy in Salisbury, and annexing Crimea.

The UK has responded by expelling Russian diplomats and freezing Russian assets.

Wallace's comments also come in the context of the UK's decision to leave the European Union.

The UK is currently negotiating its withdrawal from the EU, and there is uncertainty about the future of the UK's security relationship with the EU.

Wallace said that the UK would continue to work with its allies, including the EU, to counter the threat from Russia and China.

However, he also said that the UK needed to be prepared to act independently if necessary.

Wallace's comments are a reminder of the challenges facing the UK's armed forces.

The UK faces a range of threats, including from Russia, China and terrorism.

The UK's armed forces need to be equipped and trained to deal with these threats.

The government needs to invest in the armed forces to ensure that they are ready for war.