Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has affirmed the UK’s “cast iron commitment” to allocate 2.5% of national income to defence but has not specified a timeline for achieving this goal.
Sir Keir is in Washington for the annual NATO defence summit, having recently secured a general election victory. He and his wife Victoria were invited to the White House by President Joe Biden.
The prime minister announced that his new government will conduct a comprehensive review of the country’s future defence capabilities, which will outline a “roadmap” to meet the 2.5% target.
READ MORE: Thief stopped trying to steal wine from M&S before security give his bag for life back
He emphasized the importance of being prepared to defend the nation against multiple threats, both domestic and international, and has ordered a thorough review to ensure Britain’s defences are secure for the future.
Ahead of his trip to Washington, Sir Keir reiterated his commitment to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence, aligning it with the nation’s fiscal rules. However, he stressed that the strategic review must be prioritized, indicating that the increased spending may not be immediate. When questioned about the pledge’s priority, he stated that national defence and security remain the government’s top priority.
The strategic review will address more than just funding; it will assess the challenges faced, the necessary capabilities, and ensure alignment between the two. Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme, Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard highlighted the importance of the upcoming defence review in determining the sequence of increased spending.
Pollard emphasized that economic growth is essential for supporting public services and defence ambitions. The Conservatives had promised to achieve the 2.5% defence spending by 2030 and criticized Labour for not matching this commitment. Labour has maintained that it will meet the target when the country’s finances permit.
NATO members have committed to spending at least 2% of their GDP on defence by 2024, though many are not meeting this target. Currently, 23 out of 32 NATO member countries are projected to meet the goal this year. The UK presently spends just over 2% of its GDP on defence.
Joining Sir Keir on this trip are Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Defence Secretary John Healey, and Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds, who oversees the UK’s relations with its European neighbours.
Labour is aware of its past challenges with public trust in defence and national security, and the language used by the new senior ministers reflects a strong commitment to change this perception.
Mr. Healey reinforced the UK’s unwavering commitment to NATO, while Mr. Lammy described NATO as integral to Britain’s identity. Sir Keir remarked that the summit should demonstrate NATO allies’ united resolve to support Ukraine and confront Russian aggression. The UK seeks to enhance its support for Ukraine beyond previous measures.
This trip offers Sir Keir his first opportunity to meet global leaders in his new role, including a first meeting with President Biden. He has previously met leaders such as President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany.
READ MORE: Rare version of Sex Pistols God Save The Queen sells for record £24,000
