The White House has stated that President Donald Trump expects Britain and other NATO allies to adhere to their defence spending commitments, as controversy surrounds future UK military funding. The demand comes as outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer prepares to announce a long-delayed investment plan for the armed forces, which has been plagued by internal government disputes and ministerial resignations.
Starmer's Defence Investment Plan
Sir Keir Starmer insists the plan will keep Britain “safe and secure long into the future.” However, former Defence Secretary John Healey resigned over the military financial settlement, warning it “falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time.” The plan has been refocused by new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis, who secured an additional £14.5 billion allocation, up from the £13.5 billion offered to Healey but still below the £28 billion officials previously deemed necessary.
NATO Summit and Spending Targets
The funding dispute erupts ahead of a crucial NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, next week, where members are expected to outline a “credible path” to spending 5% of economic output on defence by 2035. This target is split into a 3.5% GDP core defence spending commitment and a 1.5% GDP commitment to wider resilience spending. In his resignation letter, Healey suggested the UK is on course to spend only 2.68% of GDP on core defence by 2030, casting doubt on meeting the 3.5% target within the required timeframe.
White House Demands
A White House official affirmed: “President Trump expects NATO allies to abide by their 5% defence spending pledge.” Trump has previously cast doubt on US commitment to NATO, branding it “a paper tiger.” He argues America has been bankrolling the defence of other countries, with tensions fuelled by his designs on Greenland, a territory of fellow NATO member Denmark, and allied responses to the Iran war. Earlier this month, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a review of American military forces in Europe, suggesting some members still “seem to think the era of free-riding is here.”
Refocused Defence Investment Plan
Under Jarvis’s refocused Defence Investment Plan (DIP), the UK will ramp up use of drones and autonomous weapons, funded by a £5 billion cash injection, in response to lessons from the Ukraine and Iran conflicts. Plans for a new fleet of next-generation destroyers have been scrapped, replaced by “hybrid” vessels that will act as command hubs for drones.
