by Admin Feb 25, 2025 Britain has announced a significant boost in military spending, aiming to demonstrate stronger burden-sharing ahead of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s upcoming meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, the British Prime Minister confirmed that the UK will increase defense spending to 2.5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027, with plans to further raise it to 3% by the end of the next government’s term, which would be by 2034 at the latest. The additional expenditure will be financed by scaling back development aid. The Labour government had previously pledged to raise defense spending from the current 2.3% of GDP to 2.5% but had not established a timeline. The new commitment now translates to an additional £13.4 billion ($17 billion) per year on defense over the next three years. “We must change our national security posture because a generational challenge demands a generational response,” Starmer said. He further acknowledged that the increase would be funded by reducing overseas development aid from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3%, a move he described as regrettable but necessary. “At times like this, the defense and security of the British people must always come first,” he added. For years, Trump has pressured European allies to shoulder a larger share of defense costs, particularly within NATO. The move by the UK aligns with calls from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who recently urged member states to allocate “considerably more” than 3% of their GDP to defense. Starmer also reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to NATO and the transatlantic alliance, emphasizing its crucial role in Europe’s security. His stance contrasts with that of Germany’s likely new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who recently suggested that Europe should establish an independent security strategy separate from the United States following his party’s election victory on Sunday. The UK’s defense spending increase signals not only a strategic response to evolving global security challenges but also an effort to solidify its position as a key NATO contributor ahead of high-level discussions in Washington.
UK Increases Defense Spending Ahead of Starmer-Trump Meeting
