Britain announced on Tuesday that it will ramp up its military spending in the coming years as Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday.
Trump has long pushed European allies to spend more on their own militaries and contribute more to NATO’s defense. Starmer told Parliament that the U.K. would increase its military spending from 2.3% of gross domestic value to 2.5% by 2027 and then to 3% by 2034, The New York Times reported.
“It is my first duty as Prime Minister to keep this country safe. That is why we are increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027,” Starmer, the liberal Labour Party leader, said. “In an ever more dangerous world, it’s vital that we protect British people at home.”
Britain will pay for the increase in military spending by cutting back on foreign development aid from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3%, according to Starmer, who said the move was unfortunate but necessary. “At times like this, the defense and security of the British people must always come first,” he said.
The prime minister added that the announcement means the U.K. will be taking on more responsibility in its commitment to NATO and “the collective defence of our continent,” according to the BBC.
The U.K.’s move amounts to the nation’s largest military spending increase since the Cold War, a decision Starmer said is necessary because “tyrants like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin only respond to strength.” The Labour Party leader added that Britain will remain committed to supporting Ukraine’s defense as the U.S. continues peace negotiations with Russia and Ukraine.
“We will walk with [Ukraine] through this conflict and we will continue to do so for as long as is necessary,” Starmer said, adding, “We will not falter in our support for Ukraine. We will not stop our efforts to end this war. And we will not rest until the people of Ukraine can live peacefully and safely in their own country.”
President Trump, meanwhile, has been critical of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the U.S. seeks to broker a peace deal with Russia and Ukraine. Trump said last week that he’s had “very good talks” with Putin but “not such good talks with Ukraine” after calling Zelensky a “dictator” and blaming him for starting the war.