UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he will increase annual defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and target a 3% level last seen just after the Cold War.
On the eve of his departure to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, Starmer told parliament he was bringing the increase in defense spending forward to offer Europe more support as the U.S. spearheads peace talks with Russia over its war in Ukraine.
With public spending already stretched in Britain, Starmer said the increase from its current 2.3% would be fully paid for by a 40% cut to international aid, an announcement he said he was not happy to make but one which was necessary to offer Ukraine and Europe support in a "new era", according to Reuters.
