Pax Christi: Government decision to cut aid and increase military spending 'shameful, shocking and self defeating'

Pax Christi has joined others in condemning the UK Government's decision this week to cut the foreign aid budget in order to increase military spending.

It is encouraging all of us peacemakers, in this Jubilee Year of Hope, to raise our voices to protect the world's poorest and most vulnerable and to write to our MPs to let the Government know that we object strongly to this policy choice and want to see it reversed.

"The announcement that a Labour Government is cutting the UK's international aid budget by 40% to increase military spending to 2.5% is shameful, shocking and self-defeating" said Pax Christi National Chaplain Sr Katrina Alton.

"We know that war is profitable, but the blatant transactional capitalism being trumpeted by the US, and that seems to have influenced this UK policy decision, is beyond cynical. Peace cannot be bought but we know that oil, rare minerals, and prime real estate can. To build peace amidst the ruins and devastation of countries such as Gaza, Ukraine, and Syria, requires investment in people and communities. Peace is relational, never transactional."

Chair, Kathryn Lydon added: "There is a need for much debate about' just defence 'at a time when the previous 'international order 'is breaking down. But should our first response be to curry favour with President Trump, who only sees the world through the lens of profit and narrow national interest?

"Peace is a process that requires long term commitments to reconciliation grounded in justice and truth."

Sr Katrina said: "Throwing billions into the bottomless pit of military spending only does one thing - it increases the share prices of arms companies. Whereas international aid, focusing on education, health, housing, sustainability, is the only way to overcome ideologies of hate and revenge that perpetuate wars and violence. It's the only way to break the cycles of violence, poverty and injustice without sacrificing the lives of our brothers and sisters to the insatiable appetite of war."

See also: ICN 25 February 2025 - Cutting UK overseas aid - a betrayal of the most vulnerable www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51801