UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 amid uncertainties surrounding US President Donald Trump’s commitment to European security. Starmer also outlined a goal to eventually raise spending to 3% of GDP, marking the largest increase since the Cold War.
The UK spent 2.3% of its GDP on defense in 2023/24, and the planned increase will be funded by reducing overseas development aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of national income. Starmer highlighted that this increase would cost the government $16.9 billion annually from 2027, but he believes it will contribute to the most significant and sustainable growth in defense spending since the Cold War.
Starmer’s announcement comes ahead of his upcoming meeting with Trump in Washington on Thursday.
