British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to significantly increase defense spending, pledging to raise it to 2.5 percent of the economy by 2027. This commitment comes amid growing uncertainty regarding US President Donald Trump’s dedication to European security, as the geopolitical landscape remains precarious. Starmer has expressed a long-term goal of eventually reaching a defense spending level of three percent, representing an increase of 0.7 percent from current allocations, marking the largest boost in military funding since the Cold War era.
In remarks highlighting the urgency of the situation, Starmer stated, “The great lesson of our history is that tyrants like Putin only respond to strength.” This announcement is set to precede vital discussions on Ukraine with Trump in Washington, highlighting a strategic move to align with the US president’s demands for increased defense investments from European allies.
Currently, the UK allocates 2.3 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to defense, which Starmer’s Labour government had previously committed to raising but without a specified timeline. Trump has been vocal about his expectations, urging NATO countries to meet a target of five percent of their economic output, while the US itself spends around 3.3 percent on defense.
Starmer faces the challenge of reaffirming UK support for Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky while navigating the intricacies of Trump’s foreign policy approach, which includes discussions with Moscow aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. The Prime Minister has acknowledged that Trump’s recent actions have accelerated his decision-making regarding defense spending goals. “The last few weeks have accelerated my thinking on when we needed to make this announcement,” he told reporters.
In response to Starmer’s pledge, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the increase as a “strong step from an enduring partner.” The Prime Minister expressed hope that this commitment would help secure US backing for any European peacekeepers deployed to Ukraine to oversee a potential ceasefire.
Starmer’s stance has been echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, with both leaders indicating willingness to send troops to Ukraine, contingent upon US support in the form of security guarantees, which could encompass air cover and intelligence resources. The UK Prime Minister emphasized the significance of this investment in bolstering the UK’s role within NATO and enhancing collective defense capabilities across Europe.
In addition to focusing on military spending, Starmer is set to host several leaders this weekend, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, to further discuss joint defense plans in light of current global tensions. Starmer aims to hike defense spending to three percent of GDP in the next parliamentary term, aligning with elections projected for 2029. The immediate rise to 2.5 percent would incur a cost of approximately £13.4 billion annually starting in 2027, necessitating “extremely difficult and painful choices,” according to the Prime Minister.
To facilitate this increase, Starmer intends to reduce overseas development aid from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent of gross national income. While he expressed reluctance to cut humanitarian aid, he affirmed that the UK would maintain a significant role in providing assistance to war-torn nations such as Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza.
The decision to reduce aid expenditures has sparked considerable backlash from aid organizations. Romilly Greenhill, chief executive of Bond, an umbrella group representing international development and humanitarian organizations, criticized the move as “short-sighted and appalling.” The ramifications of this budgetary shift are likely to influence the UK’s standing in the international community and shape its future humanitarian efforts.
