Key facts
- Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte is confident Andy Burnham will meet the alliance's defence spending targets.
- Rutte believes increased defence spending can stimulate economic growth and job creation.
- The UK has committed to spending 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035.
- The UK's new defence investment plan is valued at over £300 billion.
- The defence funding shortfall has reportedly been reduced to less than £4 billion.
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed confidence that Andy Burnham, widely expected to be the UK's next prime minister, will uphold the alliance's defence spending commitments. Rutte suggested that increased military expenditure can serve a dual purpose: ensuring national security and stimulating economic growth through job creation.
During a visit to London, Rutte acknowledged that the UK might not reach the Nato target of spending 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035 in a single step, especially with the publication of its long-delayed defence investment plan. However, he believes Burnham will recognize the broader economic benefits of boosting UK defence spending by an estimated £30 billion annually.
Rutte noted that historically, Labour prime ministers have demonstrated a strong commitment to Nato. He also met with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, discussing the upcoming Nato summit in Ankara. The UK's commitment to defence spending has been a point of contention, leading to the resignation of John Healey as defence secretary over concerns about the pace of progress towards the 3.5% target.
Starmer had previously proposed spending 2.68% of GDP by 2030, an increase of £2 billion, which critics argued left insufficient time to reach the 3.5% goal by 2035. Rutte anticipates the UK will make a significant financial commitment in its defence investment plan as a step towards meeting the target. The 10-year plan involves over £300 billion in major projects, with a reported reduction in the funding shortfall to less than £4 billion, partly due to an additional £1 billion secured by the new Defence Secretary, Dan Jarvis.
Burnham, speaking separately in Manchester, criticized current UK public procurement policies for prioritizing low-cost deals and advocated for a more effective use of taxpayer money, a principle he intends to apply to the defence investment plan. Rutte indicated he does not foresee a change in UK defence policy under Burnham, citing the UK's consistent track record of meeting commitments. He contrasted this with Germany, which plans to meet its spending target six years ahead of schedule in 2029. Rutte also thanked Starmer for his efforts in encouraging European and global involvement in supporting Ukraine with military aid and diplomatic efforts.