UK to raise defense spending to 2.5% in line with US demands

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an increase in defense spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027.

"The biggest sustained increase in defence spending since end of cold war," in Starmer's words, is both a "security imperative" and an economic opportunity: "We will make sure this investment maximises British jobs, British growth, British skills and British innovation."

Labour directly targeted Vladimir Putin, stating that his aggression toward Ukraine influenced the budget decision: "The great lesson of our history is that tyrants like Putin only respond to strength."

When asked whether Donald Trump's longstanding insistence that Europe increase its military spending had been a decisive factor, Starmer responded that the decision had been developing since the start of the Russian invasion. However, he acknowledged that "the last few weeks have accelerated my thinking on when we needed to make this announcement."

The announcement came just hours before his first trip to Washington to meet with Trump. "It's true that President Trump thinks we should do more, and I agree with him," he told local reporters following his appearance in Parliament.

Cuts in international development

The increase in defense spending will be funded by the budget allocated for international development, representing a "hard" choice that will reduce that allocation from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP by 2027. "That is not an announcement I am happy to make," he stated.

From the Conservative Party, the decision was met with applause. Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the largest opposition party, expressed her satisfaction that the premier heeded her "advice" to draw from the foreign aid budget. "The world has changed, and Britain is not ready; we must adapt," she stated.

Starmer went even further, aiming to set a higher standard: "In line with our strategic and operational needs, we will establish a clear ambition for defense spending to rise to 3 percent of GDP in the next Parliament."