Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the most significant increase in UK defence spending since the Cold War, vowing to allocate 2.6% of GDP to defence by 2026 and 3% within the next decade. To fund this commitment, Starmer revealed that billions would be cut from the overseas aid budget.
Addressing the Commons, the Prime Minister declared, “We must find courage in our history, courage in who we are as a nation because courage is what our own era now demands of us.”
His announcement followed a stark warning that Europe faces growing danger if Russian President Vladimir Putin prevails in Ukraine. Starmer has also committed to deploying British troops if a peace deal is reached, contingent on a US security guarantee.
This week, the Prime Minister is set to travel to Washington DC for a meeting with President Donald Trump amid mounting concerns over the US administration’s stance on Ukraine, told the Mirror.
Speaking to MPs, Starmer emphasized the lessons of history, stating, “One of the great lessons of our history is that instability in Europe will always wash up on our shores, and that tyrants like Putin only respond to strength.”
He continued, “Russia is a menace in our waters, in our airspace, on our streets. They have launched cyber attacks on our NHS, even seven years ago, a chemical weapons attack on the streets of Salisbury. We must stand by Ukraine.”
The Prime Minister underscored the UK’s role in ensuring European security, rejecting what he described as a “false choice” between aligning with the US or Europe. “A generational challenge requires a generational response that will demand some extremely difficult and painful choices,” he warned.
Following discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Starmer recounted a conversation with a Ukrainian burns victim. “He said to me, ‘If Ukraine fails, Europe will be next.’ And that is what is at stake here. That is why we will always stand with Ukraine and our allies against this aggression and for a just and lasting peace.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced a sweeping sanctions package aimed at pressuring Russia into concessions. The Prime Minister described these measures as “the largest package of sanctions since the early days of the war,” with particular focus on Russia’s shadow fleet and firms in China supplying military components.
Amid concerns over Trump’s administration engaging in peace talks with Russia, Zelensky has voiced frustration over being excluded from negotiations, prompting Trump to dismiss him as a “dictator.” Fears are growing that Trump may concede to Russia’s demands, raising concerns that the Kremlin could launch further aggression even if a deal is struck.
Starmer stressed the need for unity, stating, “This is a time for unity. In this crucial moment, as talks begin, we must work together to shape the outcome. Russia does not hold all the cards in this war, because the Ukrainians have the courage to defend their country, because Russia’s economy is in trouble, and because they have now lost the best of their land forces and their Black Sea Fleet in this pointless invasion.”
While the Government has pledged to reach 2.5% of GDP in defence spending by the end of the decade, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch argued this target is insufficient given current threats. “2.5% by 2030 is now no longer sufficient,” she stated, calling for a significant increase in defence spending. Trump, for his part, has urged NATO allies to commit to even higher defence spending, suggesting a target of 5% of GDP.
On Monday, the US voted against a UN General Assembly resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. The non-binding resolution passed with 93 votes in favour, while the US was among 18 countries that opposed it, joining Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Burundi, and Nicaragua.
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