Nato ‘will force Starmer to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence’ to keep Trump happy
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The amount Starmer must spend on defence to keep Trump happy
- Amid pressure from Nato and the US, Britain is expected to commit to increasing defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2035 at an upcoming Nato summit, defence sources say.
- The move aims to appease Donald Trump and reduce European dependence on Washington for military support.
- Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte is seeking agreement from member countries to spend 3.5 per cent on hard defence and an additional 1.5 per cent on cyber, intelligence, and military infrastructure.
- Defence Secretary John Healey did not rule out tax rises to fund the increased military spending, while Labour faces criticism for lacking a clear plan to reach the 3 per cent defence spending target.
- The government insists its commitment to Nato is unwavering; the UK is already the third-highest spender in Nato.