Britain to Increase Defense Spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027
The British government has announced plans to increase its defense spending to 2.5% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027, a move that marks a significant shift in the country’s military budget policy. According to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the long-term increase in defense spending will be achieved by 2027, with the goal of reaching 3% of GDP by that year.
To finance the increased expenditures, the government will need to reduce its budget for international aid from 0.5 to 0.3% of GDP, Starmer emphasized. The prime minister acknowledged that this decision is not one he would take lightly, but believes it is necessary to provide support to Ukraine and Europe in a “new era”.
Starmer made the announcement in a speech to the British House of Commons, just before his planned trip to Washington, where he is set to meet with US President Donald Trump on Thursday. Trump has repeatedly called on NATO allies to increase their defense spending to at least 5% of GDP, a demand that has been met with resistance from some member states.
During the general election campaign last year, Starmer’s Labour Party promised to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP, without specifying a timeline. The new plan marks a significant departure from the country’s post-Cold War approach to defense spending, which has seen a decline in military outlays as a percentage of GDP.