The British Army is suspending major training exercises to save £30 million, a move that has led to approximately 600 troops being stood down. This decision comes amid pressure on the government to increase defense spending.

A directive sent to Army commanders states that there will be no further large-scale training involving 90 or more troops for the remainder of the financial year. Instead, training will be confined to smaller groups, though exercises involving drones will continue. This measure is reportedly a response to the Labour party's stance on defense expenditure.

Previously, Chancellor John Healey had abandoned a pledge to reach three percent of GDP for defense spending by 2030. Major exercises that have been canceled include a six-week war game planned for Wales, which was set to feature Challenger 2 tanks and Apache helicopter gunships. These cancellations have been met with criticism from former military officials.

Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon described the situation as "bonkers" and "an incredible piece of self-harm," warning that it could embolden adversaries. Former Army chief General Sir Patrick Sanders called the decision "unbelievably short-sighted."

This is not the first time training has been affected by budget constraints. In 2024, troop pay raises led to canceled exercises and restrictions on vehicle hires due to a lack of additional funding from the Treasury, forcing the Ministry of Defence to find £400 million internally.

According to financial assessments, increasing UK defense spending to three percent of GDP would require an additional £10 billion annually. Reaching NATO's target of 3.5 percent by 2035 is projected to cost an extra £25 billion.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting faces scrutiny over the government's defense spending plans. The current projections suggest defense spending will peak at 2.7 percent of GDP by 2030, falling short of the NATO target that other member states, like Germany, are aiming to achieve.

An Army spokesperson stated that training continues, with a focus on activities that enhance readiness and operational effectiveness. The spokesperson also mentioned a £2 billion investment over the next 15 years to modernize Army training.