The US will force the UK into boosting defence spending up to 3.5% of GDP as US President Donald Trump pressures Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other NATO allies into bolstering their military power, according to reports. Defence sources believe that Sir Keir will be forced to sign an agreement targeting the figure by 2035 at the upcoming Nato summit, despite refusing to commit to a timescale for even a 3% target only hours earlier.
On Monday, the UK government unveiled its long-awaited strategic defense review, referred to by commentators as the SDR, vowing that Britain’s armed forces are moving toward’s “war-fighting readiness” amid the growing threat of Putin’s Russia
Sir Keir agreed to boost defence spending from the 2.33% of GDP being spent currently to 2.5% by 2027. The SDR also set the goal of reaching 3% in the next parliament, but without a firm date.
However, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte has been pushing for allies to commit to spending 3.5% on hard defence as well as 1.5% on cyber, intelligence and military-related infrastructure at a two day Nato summit being hosted at The Hague, starting on June 24th.
Rutte is keen to retain Trump’s support for the alliance by heeding the US President’s calls for Nato members to dramatically increase their military spending.
That would see total broader defence spending rising to 5%, with members of the alliance increasingly concerned by Russia’s apparent refusal to meaningfully negotiate an end to its war in Ukraine, and fears that one of Russia’s Nato neighbours could be next.
One senior insider since told Sky News that the UK would “without a doubt” sign up to a proposal from Rutte to go well beyond the government’s current goal.
Insiders told The Guardian that the PM is set to hold a discussion on the 3.5% target on Tuesday.
However, the 3.5% figure may not include some elements, like intelligence, that are categorised as Nato-qualifying spending by the UK Treasury, as per the outlet.
Negotiations would be expected to take place on these details. A defence spending increase of this side would likely require tax hikes and savings from other departments.
Sir Keir has already cut the foreign aid budget in his bid to raise military spending and hasn’t ruled out reducing the level further. Though by 2027 its expected to only be around 0.3% of GBP meaning ministers may have to make unpalatable political decisions to raise funding.
The Cabinet Office has been approached for comment.
