Alistair Carns says the current geopolitical environment is the most "fractious I've known it in 24 years of service". Speaking on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the veterans minister adds that the government's new Valour network will "ensure veterans can get the support they require in the fastest possible time in the right form". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00I've been a veteran for 24 years so this is all about delivering change and
00:03making sure the government takes responsibility for its veterans. This is
00:06going to see change at the national, the regional and the local level to ensure
00:09veterans can get support they require in the fastest possible time in the right
00:13form. The geopolitical environment we live in today is probably the most
00:15fractious I've known in 24 years of service and so we've seen the defense
00:19increase in spending to 2.5% highest in 14 years up to 3% the next government
00:24which will ensure that our troops and our capability is the best that we can
00:28possibly have. Well NATO is the most effective defensive alliance the world
00:31has ever seen. Our commitment is 110% you know we are NATO first. Importantly in
00:36that parade we've also got Ukrainians who are marching which I think is really
00:40poignant given the fact V-Day, V-80, we defended Europe and now the Europeans are
00:44on the edge of Europe defending it and just by now by this interview today there
00:47would already been 500 casualties between the Russians and the Ukrainians
00:51which really brings it home you know level of the conflict that's going on the
00:54edge of Europe right now.