Key facts
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attend the Nato summit in Ankara.
- US Ambassador to Nato Matt Whitaker criticized allies for lagging defence spending.
- The UK's defence spending is projected to reach 2.7% of GDP by 2030.
- Nato members agreed to reach at least 3.5% of GDP by 2035.
- British F-35 jets intercepted a Russian aircraft near a UK aircraft carrier.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to attend the Nato summit in Ankara, where he may face diplomatic pressure over defence spending. US Ambassador to Nato Matt Whitaker has criticized allies for not meeting spending targets, while Starmer aims to rally European support for the alliance. Downing Street stated that leaders would focus on 'building a stronger and more European Nato' to address concerns from US President Donald Trump, who is expected to rebuke countries for not progressing towards the 3.5% GDP defence spending target by 2035. The UK government pushed back on these claims, asserting that the UK has always met its commitments and is a top defence contributor. The UK's defence investment plan includes an additional £15bn, with spending projected to rise to 2.7% of GDP by 2030, though there is no firm commitment to a 3% interim benchmark. The UK is the third-largest real terms contributor to Nato but ranks 14th as a percentage of GDP. Starmer's attendance comes as he prepares to leave office, with discussions expected on fairer burden-sharing within the alliance. Separately, British F-35 fighter jets intercepted a Russian aircraft conducting unsafe approaches near a UK aircraft carrier in the Norwegian Sea.