Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has reiterated the UK’s “cast iron commitment” to spending 2.5% of national income on defence, however, he has refused to provide a timeline on when this promise will be delivered. Sir Keir travelled to Washington for the annual summit of the Nato defence alliance, less than a week after winning the general election. He and his wife Victoria had been invited to the White House by President Joe Biden. Sir Keir has said that his new government will conduct a review of the defence capabilities the country needs in the future which will set out a “roadmap” to achieve the 2.5% target.
The Prime Minister stated, “At a time when we face multiple threats at home and abroad, we must make sure we are ready to defend ourselves. That’s why I have immediately ordered a root-and-branch review that will secure Britain’s defences for the future.” In a statement to reporters ahead of his departure to Washington, Sir Keir said he was committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence “within our fiscal rules.” However, he added, “That strategic review needs to come first” suggesting this would not happen quickly.
During the election campaign, the Conservatives pledged to reach 2.5% by 2030 and criticised Labour for not matching their commitment. However, Labour has consistently maintained that they will reach the target when the nation’s finances allow. Nato members have pledged to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence by 2024, with many countries falling short of the target. Currently, 23 of the alliance’s 32 member countries are projected to meet the target by the end of this year. The UK currently spends just over 2% of its GDP on defence.
Sir Keir was joined on his trip by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Defence Secretary John Healey, and the Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds, who has a responsibility for the UK’s relations with its European neighbours. The Labour Party is aware that they are often not trusted on defence and national security and so the language used by these senior ministers is conspicuous in its conviction. Mr Healey affirmed that “Britain’s commitment to Nato is unshakeable” while Mr Lammy stated that “Nato is part of Britain’s DNA.”
This trip provided the Prime Minister with his first opportunity to meet fellow world leaders in his new role and it was also the first time he had met President Biden. Sir Keir has previously met other leaders of Nato member states such as Emmanuel Macron of France and Olaf Scholz of Germany
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