British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has committed to more than doubling the UK’s defence and security budget to 5% of GDP by 2035, in line with the newly agreed NATO target. The pledge is the nation’s highest level of military spending since the Cold War and follows increasing global turmoil.
Talking on the way to the NATO summit in The Hague, Starmer warned the world was witnessing “exceptionally volatile” times and the UK needs to prepare for potential threats domestically. The government’s new National Security Strategy, out Tuesday, says Britain now needs to “actively prepare” for a risk of direct attacks, including during wartime operations.
The UK has before pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 from 2.3% in the last year. The new target, though, is a quantum jump, with projected additional annual expenditure of £30 billion ($41 billion). Starmer didn’t give any information on how the raise would be paid for but dismissed suggestions it would cut back on welfare spending, a problem already straining within his party.
The plan sets out 3.5% of GDP for conventional defence expenditure and a further 1.5% for overall security requirements, including cyber resilience and homeland readiness. Citizens could also be called on to take part in “national resilience exercises” as part of contingency plans to boost readiness.
In a continuing series of Israeli air raids on Iran despite US calls for a de-escalation, Starmer restated the UK’s support for an extended ceasefire in the Middle East.
At the same time, the strategy also takes on board the results of a much-anticipated review of Britain’s relationship with China. While Downing Street decided against publishing the audit openly for fear of security breaches, Foreign Secretary David Lammy explained that despite Chinese interference increasing, engagement needed to continue because of China’s influence across the world.