UK to hike defence spending and cut aid budget, Starmer says

According to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the UK will increase its defense spending by 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027, a sign that the country is working to strengthen security in Europe.

Starmer told the British parliament on Tuesday that he would be meeting with US President Donald Trump to discuss the increase in order to give Europe more support as the US launches negotiations with Russia over its conflict in Ukraine.

He noted that starting in 2027, the UK would spend 13.4 billion pounds (17 billion) more on defense. The UK’s Ministry of Defence noted that the country spent 53.9 billion pounds ($68.3bn) in the 2023-2024 financial year.

“We must go further still. I’ve long argued that all of Europe’s allies must take action to advance our own defense, Starmer continued.

He claimed that a 40% reduction in the country’s foreign aid would cover the cost of the defense spending increase.

The international aid budget will be cut from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2027, Starmer said.

The British government’s aid budget was cut, the prime minister said, but he was disappointed that it had to be done to give Ukraine and Europe support in a “new era.”

The UK’s aid budget was cut from 0.7 percent of GDP to 0.5% in November 2020 as a result of the COVID pandemic.

Starmer will meet with Trump later this week and is eager to share that the UK will try to encourage the US-led military NATO alliance, a demand Trump has repeatedly made, suggesting that nations should spend 5% of GDP.

In addition, he hopes to reassure Trump that if negotiations for a peace with Russia are successful, Europe will offer Kyiv support and security guarantees.

French President Emmanuel Macron met with Trump on Monday with the same objective in mind.

“I’m here as well after discussions with all my colleagues, to say that Europe is willing to step up to be a stronger partner, to do more in defence and security for its continent, and … to be engaged on trade, economy and investments”, Macron told reporters in Washington.

Trump’s desire to start negotiations with senior US and Russian diplomats without Ukrainian or European leaders’ participation has sparked tensions in Europe, where Washington has questioned its commitment to its security.

Trump, who took office on January 20, said on Monday that “a lot of progress has been made” so far on efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The US president expressed his satisfaction at a press conference with Macron on Monday evening that the country must bear the costs and burden of ensuring peace among all other European countries.