LONDON — Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday that the United Kingdom plans to increase its defense budget to 2.5% of its gross domestic product by the year 2027, citing a heightened level of insecurity throughout Europe that calls for a comprehensive, long-term response. This announcement comes in the lead-up to a meeting scheduled with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, where Starmer aims to advocate for sustained American backing of Ukraine and the NATO alliance.
Addressing lawmakers in the House of Commons, Starmer emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine, warning that failure to secure a lasting peace could exacerbate economic instability and security threats. “As the dynamics of this conflict evolve, our response must become clearer and more resolute,” Starmer stated, urging a united and robust response akin to historical precedents.
Currently, the U.K. allocates 2.3% of its GDP to defense spending. The government had previously aimed for a 2.5% target but had not established a timeframe. Starmer revealed that the proposed increase would entail an additional expenditure of 13.4 billion pounds ($17 billion) annually, with a view to elevate defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2035.
To accommodate this financial commitment, foreign aid will be cut from 0.5% to 0.3% of national income, a decision Starmer described as “very difficult and painful.” He touted the announcement as marking the “largest consistent escalation in defense funding since the Cold War’s conclusion,” asserting that strength is the only language understood by authoritative figures such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
While defense officials applauded the proposal, various aid organizations and some political representatives expressed concern over the impending reduction in development aid. David Miliband, former U.K. foreign secretary and current head of the International Rescue Committee, labeled the aid cuts as one with “far-reaching and devastating” consequences for those requiring greater assistance. Without humanitarian aid, more people risk displacement, and global health could be significantly endangered.
Controversy over the aid reduction extended to Liberal Democrat lawmaker Monica Harding, who argued that cutting aid for the world’s poorest is strategically and morally flawed, potentially endowing Russia and China with more influence. Meanwhile, throughout Europe, nations are hastening to fortify collective defenses amid Trump’s evolving foreign policy that appears to sideline European considerations.
Trump has consistently voiced skepticism about NATO’s utility and criticized European countries for not adequately contributing to their security. Scheduled to meet Trump at the White House on Thursday, Starmer proposed deploying British troops to Ukraine to support a ceasefire under a plan co-led by the U.K. and France, though he stressed the necessity of American support to ensure lasting peace. Trump has not assured security guarantees for Ukraine, recently remarking that Europe would bear the responsibility for its security.
Starmer’s government, positioned in the center-left of the political spectrum, aims to enhance defense collaboration with European countries as part of a strategy to “reset” ties with the European Union following recent Brexit-related tensions. Despite Trump’s embrace of an “America First” approach that strains international relations, Starmer seeks to cultivate strong ties with Washington. As Trump disparages allies and imposes trade restrictive measures, while portraying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “dictator,” Starmer insists on dispelling any false dichotomies between alliances across the Atlantic. He plans to convey to Trump his aspirations for an increasingly robust U.S.-U.K. relationship.
