But the contractors. We need the contractors that want to overcharge and take as much of the taxpayers money as possible. It’s important! /s

It’s not particularly true outside the US though, most NATO members spend less than the 2%, and here in the UK the army is down to 30k or so staff. In a nation of 70 million. If total war were to break out, how long could the UK survive?

Meanwhile NHS spending as a % of GDP rose even under the conservatives, although this figure doesn’t take into account an aging population.