Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to increase the UK’s defence and security spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, warning that the country must confront an “era of radical uncertainty” with renewed urgency and investment.
The announcement was made ahead of a NATO summit in The Hague, where the Prime Minister is expected to call for deeper international cooperation amid escalating threats in both Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
“This is an opportunity to deepen our commitment to NATO and drive greater investment in the nation’s wider security and resilience,” Starmer said, outlining a significant increase from the current NATO target of 2%.
Under the proposal, 3.5% of GDP would be allocated to core defence, with a further 1.5% dedicated to bolstering national resilience and wider security capabilities.
“We must navigate this era of radical uncertainty with agility, speed, and a clear-eyed sense of the national interest,” the Prime Minister added. “This is about delivering security for working people and keeping them safe.”
NATO Members Urged to Act Faster
The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid growing warnings from Kyiv about Russia’s future military capabilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cautioned that Russia may be in a position to launch an attack on a NATO member within five years, arguing that the alliance’s timeline for increasing defence spending is too slow.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Zelenskyy said Russia, despite suffering heavy battlefield losses, could rebuild its military strength by the end of the decade. “Ten years is enough for them to have a new army ready,” he said, adding that NATO must act swiftly to counter that threat.
A ‘Quantum Leap’ in NATO Capability
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the UK’s move, describing the increased spending as a “quantum leap” for the alliance.
“This will make NATO a stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance,” Rutte said.
However, unity over the proposed spending increase remains fragile. Reports indicate that Spain has negotiated an exemption from the 5% target, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stating that a 2.1% contribution would suffice to meet Spain’s defence obligations within the 32-member alliance.
Middle East Ceasefire Holds, For Now
The summit is taking place against a backdrop of renewed tensions in the Middle East, although a temporary ceasefire appears to be holding. Former US President Donald Trump claimed late on Monday to have brokered a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, following Tehran’s retaliation for a US strike on its nuclear facilities.
On Tuesday morning, Israel confirmed it had agreed to the ceasefire proposal, stating that it had “achieved the objectives” of its military operations. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi later posted on social media that Tehran had “no intention” to continue attacks, provided Israel ceased its “illegal aggression against the Iranian people.”
UK National Security Strategy Due Today
Coinciding with the NATO summit, the UK government is expected to publish its new national security strategy, calling for a “whole of society” approach to resilience.
The strategy will draw together findings from a series of recent government reviews, including the strategic defence review, an assessment of the AUKUS security pact with the United States and Australia, and a fresh audit of the UK’s relationship with China.
Officials say the document will reflect the evolving nature of global threats, and the need to redefine national security in a more comprehensive and forward-looking way.
Sir Keir is scheduled to arrive in the Netherlands later today for the two-day NATO summit, where defence, deterrence and alliance cohesion are expected to dominate the agenda.
