Key facts
- Twelve Nato allies will collectively spend over £37 billion ($50 billion) over the next ten years on a new long-range missile project.
- The 'Deep Precision Strike' project aims to develop a weapon capable of striking targets up to 1,250 miles away.
- The initiative is intended to enhance European defence and deter potential aggressors.
- The project is expected to be ready in the 2030s.
- Nato members previously agreed to spend 5% of GDP on defence by 2035.
Twelve Nato allies, including the UK, are set to commit over £37 billion ($50 billion) during the next decade to a new long-range missile project, dubbed 'Deep Precision Strike'. The initiative, unveiled by the UK government, aims to bolster European defence capabilities and deter potential adversaries.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is attending the Nato summit in Ankara, where the project will be discussed. He is expected to face scrutiny from US President Donald Trump regarding the UK's defence spending, as Nato members have agreed to increase their contributions to 5% of GDP by 2035. Sir Keir stated the UK-led programme would "help bring European allies together to keep Nato safe for years to come" and that "Nato is stronger, more European and ready to defend our citizens against the long-term threat posed by him [Putin] and the Russian state."
The Deep Precision Strike missile is designed to hit targets with pinpoint accuracy at ranges of nearly 200 miles, potentially extending to 1,250 miles. However, it is not anticipated to be operational until the 2030s. The UK government has already pledged £300 billion by 2030 under its Defence Investment Plan.
Sir Keir is expected to highlight the escalating threat from Russia, noting that Nato fighter jets have intercepted Russian aircraft approaching allied airspace over 700 times, and Russian military activity near UK waters has surged by 30%. While Nato does not seek confrontation, it must be prepared to defend its allies.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the summit, appealing for urgent air defence systems to counter escalating Russian attacks. Ukraine has been independently deploying long-range drones and missiles against Russian oil refineries and military targets, reportedly causing fuel shortages and power disruptions. Number 10 commented that Ukraine's effective use of long-range systems has had "game-changing impacts on the battlefield."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that Russia would closely monitor the summit. He asserted that any new weapons provided to Kyiv would not prevent Russia from achieving its military objectives in Ukraine and reiterated that a political and diplomatic settlement remains Russia's preferred outcome.