Jonathan Evans, chairman of the Halo Trust and a former UK national security official, has raised concerns over recent cuts to the United Kingdom's international development budget, warning that reductions could undermine the country’s wider security efforts. Speaking in the context of a 40 percent reduction to the overseas development budget, Evans highlighted the risks posed by decreased funding for conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives abroad.

Evans emphasized that while boosting defense spending is necessary, national security cannot rely solely on hard power. Preventing conflicts before they escalate is crucial, as instability overseas can directly affect the UK, including through impacts on energy prices and food security. He cited comments by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper underscoring how international instability resonates domestically.

A key area of Evans’s concern lies with the UK Integrated Security Fund (ISF), a cross-government budget designed to address emerging crises by integrating defense, diplomatic, and development efforts. According to Evans, the ISF has experienced a 45 percent reduction in its aid components, leading to the cancellation of nearly a dozen programs targeted at combating terrorism and extremism in fragile regions including Sudan, Somalia, Tunisia, and Jordan. The acting head of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed that the ISF's Africa program has been discontinued.

The cuts, Evans cautioned, open space for rival powers such as Russia and China to expand their influence in these regions. This retreat, he argued, risks forfeiting the UK’s role in mitigating conflicts that contribute to poverty, instability, and security threats.

Evans highlighted specific challenges, such as the ongoing violence in the Sahel region, where Islamist insurgencies and military coups pose a direct threat to European security. The flow of weapons from Libya into the Sahel fuels this instability, and Evans stressed that modest investment could help stem arms trafficking and reinforce local governments’ ability to manage such threats. He noted that the ISF was instrumental in supporting these efforts, but its diminished budget threatens their continuation.

As chairman of an organization focused on clearing landmines and explosive remnants of war, Evans said he has witnessed firsthand how relatively small expenditures can yield significant security benefits. He urged incoming government leadership to reconsider the funding cuts and restore support for international conflict prevention programs, framing such investments as essential to the UK’s national interest.