Abdelrahman
On Tuesday, the UK government unveiled a significant increase in military funding, aiming to deliver a strong message about collective defense efforts as Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares for his meeting with President Trump at the White House on Thursday.
During a statement, Mr. Starmer announced that the UK intends to boost its military expenditure to 2.5% of its GDP by 2027, reaching up to 3% during the subsequent government term, likely by 2034. To support this substantial financial commitment, he noted that the government would reduce overseas development aid.
The Labour government had previously committed to elevating defense spending to 2.5% from the current level of 2.3%, yet it had not specified a timeline for this increase. This adjustment will translate to an additional annual defense budget of £13.4 billion (approximately $17 billion) by 2027.
In his address to Parliament, which garnered bipartisan approval, Mr. Starmer asserted, “We must adjust our national security stance because the challenges we face require a response of equal magnitude.”
He also indicated that the government would decrease overseas development funding from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3%, expressing regret over this decision. “In times like these, the security of the British populace must take precedence,” he emphasized.
