British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that the government should increase military spending to 3% of GDP, during a discussion on funding the British armed forces.

Shapps said: "Defense is the best way to protect ourselves from military conflict - you have to show your ferocity - so I clearly support the (3% target), adding, we live in a more dangerous world, we have Putin (the Russian president) making gains on the front," and he must be confronted.

British agency "PA Media" reported that Shapps demanded during his talk while visiting Poland to include the 3% target in the Conservative election program, saying "I want a bigger budget."

He also called for changing the recruitment system to include ending certain medical requirements and lifting the ban on soldiers growing beards, according to the Daily Mail.