Key facts
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is likely to face diplomatic pressure at the Nato summit in Ankara.
- US Ambassador to Nato Matt Whitaker criticized allies for lagging behind on defence spending.
- The UK's defence investment plan allocates an additional £15bn, with spending projected to reach 2.7% of GDP by 2030.
- Nato members agreed last year to reach at least 3.5% of GDP by 2035.
- Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis urged a significant increase in defence spending to meet Nato targets.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is anticipated to encounter diplomatic friction at the upcoming Nato summit in Ankara due to calls from the US for increased defence spending among alliance members. US Ambassador to Nato Matt Whitaker highlighted that several allies are not meeting expectations, urging them to accelerate their contributions towards the agreed-upon targets.
The UK's recently released defence investment plan (Dip) includes an additional £15bn for defence, but the spending as a proportion of GDP is set to rise gradually, from 2.6% in 2027 to 2.7% by 2030, with an intended trajectory towards 3% in the subsequent parliament. This pace has drawn criticism, as Nato members committed last year to reaching at least 3.5% of GDP by 2035, as part of a broader goal of 5% on defence and security-related spending.
Whitaker specifically mentioned Poland, Nordic, and Baltic countries as leading in defence contributions, while implying others, including the UK, are lagging. He stated that President Trump expects all allies to increase spending and reach the 5% target as soon as possible.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis has publicly called for a significant increase in defence spending from 2030 to demonstrate a clear path towards the 3.5% Nato target. Jarvis has been in communication with the likely incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his team to discuss defence priorities and the Dip, expressing confidence in Burnham's commitment to providing necessary resources.
Separately, the Ministry of Defence reported that British F-35 fighter jets intercepted a Russian 'Bear-F' maritime patrol aircraft that conducted unsafe and unprofessional approaches near the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier in the Norwegian Sea.