Rishi Sunak called 'shameful' for not releasing new defense plans since Putin's invasion

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As the Prime Minister prepares for the two-day NATO summit this week, he faces growing criticism at home over the state of the UK Armed Forces and key milestone delays Defense Command Document

The UK is among five NATO nations not to have published new plans - the other 26 member nations have (

Image: PA)

Rishi Sunak flies to Lithuania this week for a decisive showdown with NATO leaders as the war in Ukraine continues.

But as he prepares for the two-day summit, he faces growing criticism at home over the state of Britain's armed forces and delays in a key defense command document. The document was to outline the government's latest plans for troop numbers, vital military equipment, and ships, planes and tanks following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Labour said 26 of NATO's 31 member countries had unveiled updated defense proposals since Vladimir Putin ordered Kremlin forces across the border in February last year. The UK is one of five NATO countries not to have published new plans. The defense command document was supposed to be released weeks ago.

But the Mirror understands it may not emerge until July 17 - five days after the Prime Minister returns from a major meeting of NATO leaders, including US President Joe Biden, the French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital. .

Shadow Defense Secretary John Healey said it was "shameful" that the UK would go to the NATO summit next week without having restarted its defense plans (

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www.parliamentlive.tv)

Shadow Defense Secretary John Healey said: 'It is shameful that the UK is going to the NATO summit next week as one of only five NATO countries to still not have restarted his defense plans since...