The British government is reportedly reviewing a significant increase in defense spending, BBC has learned.
Downing Street is exploring the possibility of meeting an existing defense spending target earlier than planned, a move that could cost billions of pounds, according to Telegrafi.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer signaled this approach over the weekend at the Munich Security Conference, telling world leaders:
“To meet the wider threat, it is clear we will need to spend more, faster.”
Currently, the UK government plans to spend 2.5% of national wealth—measured as GDP—on core defense capabilities by April 2027. However, Starmer has expressed an ambition to raise this figure to 3% of GDP in the next parliamentary term.
Advisers are now reportedly examining proposals to reach the 3% target within the current Parliament, which could run until 2029. No decision has been taken, and the Treasury is said to be proceeding cautiously.
The idea was discussed at a key meeting earlier this month, where the Prime Minister and his advisers reviewed ways to meet existing defense commitments under the long-delayed Defense Investment Plan.
Recent reports suggested that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) would require an additional £28 billion over the next four years to cover existing commitments. Chief of Defence Staff Richard Knighton told MPs in January:
“We cannot do everything we would like to do, as quickly as we would like, within the budgetary context we have set.”
Officials indicated that the realization that previous commitments may not cover rising defense costs has sparked the idea of bringing spending plans forward.
Downing Street sources said the defense investment plan is still being finalized, with no decisions made. “There is a lot of speculation,” one official noted.
Financial Implications
Achieving the 3% GDP target five years earlier than planned would be extremely costly. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimated last March that raising defense spending to 3% of GDP could require an additional £17.3 billion per year by 2029-2030.
