British Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to accelerate the country's defense spending increase, aiming to strengthen security amid escalating international tensions while also bolstering his own position against the threat of an intra-party challenge. A new defense investment plan is expected to be unveiled in late May. This was reported by Bloomberg, writes UNN.
Details
According to sources, the decision to accelerate the growth of defense spending has effectively been made, but specific mechanisms are still being worked out. The Ministry of Finance warns that any significant increase in spending will require tax increases or cuts in other expenditures, as the government does not plan to violate established fiscal rules regarding borrowing.
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The government aims to bring basic defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035, but details on how to achieve this target after 2027 are currently lacking. According to the IMF, the United Kingdom has the smallest army in Europe relative to its workforce, apart from Luxembourg.
Security challenges and international context
The issue of defense has escalated amid the war in Iran, which, according to government officials, revealed the limited capabilities of the British Navy and air defense systems. At the beginning of the conflict, a drone hit a British base in Cyprus, and only one warship could be promptly dispatched to the region.
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Amid criticism from the opposition and partners, Starmer emphasized that the current conflict "will define a generation" and requires strengthening defense capabilities. At the same time, discussions about increasing defense spending are taking place after new criticism of NATO by US President Donald Trump and his statements regarding the UK's participation in operations in the Middle East.
Political dimension
Critics from the opposition accuse the government of delaying rearmament, while some Labour members fear that the focus on defense sidelines social and economic priorities. However, Downing Street expects that the emphasis on national security will help Starmer maintain his position ahead of the local elections on May 7.
According to government officials, strengthening defense policy should be a response to both external threats and internal political pressure, as well as define the prime minister's political legacy.
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