UK Calls on NATO Allies to Boost Defence Spending to 2.5 Percent
Defence and foreign ministers are heading to Washington for the NATO summit, with a focus on the war in Ukraine.
The new Labour government is urging NATO allies to increase defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP as the alliance celebrates its 75th anniversary.
The UK will also boost its own spending “as soon as possible,” as stated by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey in a joint commentary published in The Telegraph.
“We will increase spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence as soon as possible, while advocating for all NATO allies to adopt this as a new defence target,” they affirmed.
Additionally, the government will conduct a Strategic Defence Review to evaluate the status of the British armed forces, current threats, and required military capabilities.
Former opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer had previously committed to increasing defence spending, supporting the UK’s nuclear deterrent Trident program, and endorsing NATO. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had also pledged to raise defence spending to 2.5 percent, citing security threats from China, Russia, and Iran.
‘NATO First’ Defence Strategy
The ministers underscored the importance of international defence for domestic security, labeling NATO as the “ultimate guarantor of all allies to live freely and build a secure, more prosperous future for their people.”
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